SJC Exchange Library

Failure to appear in court is often a disproportionate driver of jail populations. It is important to understand it better and to reframe it. 

Justice System Partners interviewed 50 people currently in custody on a bench warrant -- not a new crime -- about why they missed court. Read JSP's latest Blog on the SJC website about the study's key findings and recommendations for moving forward. You can also read the full report here. 

As we move forward from this study, we must understand that missing court is rarely a willful event or an attempt to evade justice. Enhancing equity in the pretrial process will require courts to reimagine the process for the population of people who continuously miss court.