Can Tech Help Reduce Pretrial Incarceration?

Hey there! So, here’s the deal: thousands of people in the U.S. are stuck in jail before their trial for minor offenses. But guess what? Technology might just be the key to changing that. According to Sarah McCarthy, a lawyer from the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, a whopping 30% of their clients miss their court dates and end up with a warrant for their arrest. That number can even shoot up to 50% in other places. But hold on, because things are about to get interesting.

Alex Chohlas-Wood, the Executive Director of the Stanford Computational Policy Lab, is teaming up with McCarthy and her colleagues to see how technology can help reduce pretrial incarceration rates. Chohlas-Wood is all about bringing the benefits of technology to the public sector, and he’s got some pretty cool ideas.

Let’s talk about misdemeanors for a sec. They’re kind of in the middle of the crime spectrum. Not as minor as a traffic ticket, but not as serious as a violent crime. We’re talking about stuff like drunk driving, animal abuse, and shoplifting. Now, if you’re charged with a misdemeanor, your lawyer or public defender will guide you through the maze of court dates. It may seem like a bunch of administrative stuff, but it’s important to protect your rights and build your case for trial.

But here’s the problem: if you miss a court date, the court can issue a warrant for your arrest. And guess what happens next? You end up in jail until your trial, which could be months or even years. And let me tell you, the consequences are no joke. You could lose your job, your home, and even your family. It’s a tough situation, especially for those dealing with mental health issues or homelessness.

That’s where technology comes in. Chohlas-Wood and his team conducted a study where they sent text message reminders to people facing misdemeanor charges. And guess what? The number of warrants issued and pretrial incarcerations dropped by about 20%! That’s a big deal. But they didn’t stop there.

They’re now testing two different approaches: vinegar and honey. One version of the text message reminds defendants that they might go to jail if they miss their court date (vinegar). The other version is more supportive and emphasizes that their public defender is there to help (honey). Which one do you think is more effective? It’s still too early to say, but early results suggest that vinegar might have the edge. They’re also testing the messages in different languages to see if the impact varies across different cultural groups.

But wait, there’s more! Chohlas-Wood and his team realized that getting to court is a major challenge for many people. So, they started offering Lyft rides to defendants. But here’s the funny part: some people thought the text messages were spam! So, they switched things up and started offering gas cards, transit tokens, parking vouchers, and even lunch gift cards. They wanted to make sure people had the resources they needed to make it to court without any hassle.

McCarthy has even more ideas for using technology to help people. She wants to use the same notification system to let people know when a bench warrant has been issued. That way, they can reach out to the court or their public defender right away and avoid ending up in jail. It’s all about changing outcomes and making a real difference in people’s lives.

So, there you have it. Technology is stepping up to the plate and making a difference in the criminal justice system. Chohlas-Wood and his team are gathering data that can be used by other states and public defender offices to implement similar systems. It’s all about leveling the playing field and giving everyone a fair chance. And that’s why they’re doing this work. Pretty cool, huh?