Lee’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Court Text Reminder System Clears Committee
Legislation makes court text reminders automatic, aims to address unnecessary incarceration and save Coloradans money
DENVER, CO — Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) that would update Colorado’s court text reminder system by expanding the use of automated court date text reminders and turning the reminder program into an opt-out system instead of an opt-in system.
The bill, SB22-018, aims to improve accountability by increasing court appearance rates, save time and money for sheriffs, courts and police, and avoid filling jails with people who missed a court date.
“We should not be filling our jail cells with folks who simply miss their court date, but that is too often the case here in Colorado,” said Sen. Lee, Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “This bill is a commonsense step that will not only make it easier for people to remember their court dates, but also reduce needless incarceration while saving taxpayers money.”
Missed court appearances are costly for courts, sheriffs, police, crime survivors and people accused of crimes. Court reminders are the only evidence-based method of improving court appearance rates.
In 2019, the Colorado legislature unanimously passed SB19-036 to create a statewide court text reminder program, but because the program is opt-in, it only has a usage rate of 1 percent.
SB22-018 will transform Colorado’s court text reminder program from an opt-in system to an opt-out system and provide the following: text message court reminders for all Coloradans accused of a crime, unless and until they opt-out of the program; a link to virtual court appearances when designated by the court; and a three year working group to assess the program and recommend changes to improve effectiveness.
If enacted, the usage rates for the upgraded automatic court text reminder system are expected to increase between 50 and 75 percent.
People are frequently jailed for simply missing a court date, often for a minor offense, which can have devastating consequences, like lost jobs, lost housing, and lost custody of children. Jefferson County reported that 25 percent of their jail population is incarcerated for missing a court date on low level offense.
Studies show that people most often miss court for innocuous reasons, such as job obligations, trouble securing childcare or transportation, or human forgetfulness. Court reminders are the only evidence-based method proven to improve court appearance rates. A Jefferson County study found that successfully contacting defendants a week prior to their court date decreased the Failing to Appear (FTA) rate from 29 percent to 8 percent. Douglas County’s court reminder program decreased the FTA rate by 50 percent.
SB22-018 is also sponsored by Sen. John Cooke (R-Weld County) and now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.