Graphic representing SMS reminders from the Office of Court Administration

SMS reminders from the Office of Court Administration


http://www.ideas42.org/new-text-message-reminders-summons-recipients-improves-attendance-court-dramatically-cuts-warrants/
New York City (NYC / New York, NY)

New York City partnered with behavioral economics firm ideas42 and the University of Chicago Crime Lab to test simple “nudges” to get people to court; text reminders improved appearance rates, resulting in thousands fewer arrest warrants

Organization Type: Government / public sector
Status: Active
Related Links:
Founded: 2019
Parent Organization: City of New York
Last Modified: 3/23/2026
Added on: 6/22/2021

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Evidence of this project's impact:"

A system of text-message reminders that alerted New York City residents with criminal summonses when they needed to show up in court, what nonprofit developer Ideas42 called a “small nudge,” cut the number of people who fail to show up by 13 percent (the program’s initial trial run has since been expanded citywide). (Source, 2019-7 )

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