- Massachusetts Probation Service
Media Contact for Text Message Notification for those on Pretrial Probation is underway in every court across the Commonwealth
Coria Holland, Communications Director
Massachusetts — This new text messaging system, launched November 10, was designed to reduce the number of warrants issued for “failure to appear” and reduce unnecessary pretrial detention.
During the pandemic when courts are operating with a smaller staff, defendants are reminded to check in with lawyers who will provide a virtual court date. Individuals may also check with the Clerk’s office. Roughly 35 percent of defendants nationwide fail to appear for court dates. In the Bay State, 12.6 percent of defendants fail to show up, according to Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services Pamerson Ifill.
The Massachusetts Probation Service in collaboration with the Trial Court’s Judicial Information Services Department (JISD) was tasked with developing a text notification system as part of the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform passed by the state legislature.
As part of this effort, Probation created a Pretrial Services Division, which is managed by Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services Pamerson Ifill and includes two employees: Associate Probation Officer Jameson Dorrine and Pretrial Services Operations Coordinator Tracy Callanan. On any given day there are some 19,000 criminal defendants under pretrial supervision in the Commonwealth, according to Deputy Ifill who develops statewide strategy and builds capacity to manage and coordinate various aspects of comprehensive pretrial services with the goal of reducing failure to appear rates, reliance on cash bail, and to provide supports and services for individuals in the pretrial phase of cases that can lead to effective prosecution diversion or improved outcomes post sentencing.
“This system is critical in reducing warrants and unnecessary detention and the impact they can have on people and their lives,” he said. “If you don’t show up in court, a warrant is issued. Often times, people don’t show up simply because they forget. There is no nefarious reason,” Deputy Ifill said.
“When you think of the pandemic, you think of food insecurity and the unemployment rate in Massachusetts. People are struggling with a lot of different bandwidth issues so this is a very helpful reminder to people, a simple reminder so that they won’t have to worry about court dates,” he said.
Deputy Ifill added, “The impact a warrant can have in terms of people being held and detained—even if it is short term— can be disruptive to family, employment, and have that rolling effect that can have a significant impact on people’s lives. It’s a huge move for us here in the Massachusetts Court system. Despite the fact that we don’t have a huge failure to show rate, we still do have pockets and it is important to understand that.”
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