News  MPS Pretrial Unit Surveys Court Users on Impact of Text Alerts

Probation’s Pretrial Unit is conducting a survey on its Interactive Text Response System to understand and identify the barriers that prevent court users from attending their court hearings and to determine how to best communicate with those who use the service. 

The Unit has conducted approximately 300 surveys at 23 courts with plans to offer it at additional locations in the new year, according to Pretrial Services Operations Coordinator Jameson Dorrine. 

“The eight-question survey covers topics such as accessibility to attend, reasons for failure to appear, and impact of receiving texts. The goal is to receive more than 400 completed surveys,” Mr. Dorrine said.

Courts where the survey has been conducted include two Probate and Family Courts, 17 District Courts, the Plymouth Court Complex, two Boston Municipal Court (BMC) divisions, and Norfolk Superior Court.