Our goal is to prevent 500,000 missed court dates, and their resulting warrants and jail
time, over the next five years.
Today, people all over the country will miss an appointment: it happens to everyone. Missing an appointment is an accepted, forgivable part of life; unless, of course, you miss a court date. Missing court, even for low-level charges like traffic violations or open alcohol containers, can lead to warrants, jail, and other significant consequences. In short, missed court dates can disrupt jobs and housing, harm well-being, and “mark” individuals for the rest of their lives.
This problem is so large that more people are in jail for missing court than any other reason in areas across the United States.
Our proven solution is simple yet transformational: reimagine and reform the communications people receive about their court dates using behavioral science.
Our work has already prevented over 125,000 missed court dates and saved $357 million for governments and individuals. By helping people better understand, remember, and show up to court, we've seen a 36% reduction in missed court dates. These low-cost changes improve lives, save money, increase efficiency, and reduce strain across the system—all leading to fairer and more effective justice.
Common Barriers to Court Appearances
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We are scaling this solution because a child having a parent in jail or a worker losing their job
simply because of a missed court date is unjustifiable—it's unwarranted.
simply because of a missed court date is unjustifiable—it's unwarranted.
Partnering with us
(Un)warranted, an initiative of ideas42's Safety & Justice team, is a hub of expertise that creates positive change—bringing our proven experience to reduce nonappearance and its harmful consequences. We do so by making court date communications clearer and easier to act on, helping set up effective reminder programs, and catalyzing evidence-based policy.
Our work is actively informed by system actors, people directly impacted, and organizations serving local communities. It is also not possible without the financial support of individuals and organizations who deeply believe in the ways (Un)warranted is striving for change. We work together with advocates, community and justice organizations, funders, government (courts, district attorneys and public defenders, law enforcement, and others), and researchers, including:
- American Bar Endowment
- Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
- Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research (APPR)
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Americans for Prosperity
- Angela House
- Arnold Ventures
- Ballmer Group
- Californians for Safety and Justice
- City of Dallas
- City of New York
- Civil Rights Corps
- Covenant House Texas
- Financial Justice Project
- Harris County, TX
- Healthcare for the Homeless
- Individual Donors
- MacArthur Foundation
- Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative
- Montgomery County, AL
- Next Level Peer Group
- Restoring Justice
- Sacramento County, CA
- San Francisco Traffic Law Clinic
- SEARCH Homeless Services
- Stand Together Trust
- State of California
- State of Ohio
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Tahirih Justice Center
- Texas Jail Project
- Texas Organizing Project
- The Beacon Center
- The Bail Project
- The Bronx Defenders
- The Pew Charitable Trusts
- The Harris Center
- Tulare County, CA
- University of Chicago Crime Lab
- Urban Institute
- Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY)
We know that jurisdictions and donors across the country can create fairer, more effective justice by simply helping people show up to court. Join us by emailing unwarranted@ideas42.org.
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We also encourage you to contact us to learn more about our work.
We also encourage you to contact us to learn more about our work.
