The text notification system, which is free of charge, is now available for parties with current cases by signing up through the court's website at www.yolo.courts.ca.gov or by using the QR codes available at the public service windows, according to a press release from Yolo Superior Court. This program is not available to individuals who are not a party to the case.
"The text notification program is a part of the court's continued commitment to transparency and access," Presiding Judge Daniel Maguire stated. "It is our hope that eligible parties sign up and use this free program and that they find it helpful. We get it, people are busy, and reminders are always helpful"
Failures to appear cause delays in court and can result in additional charges against a defendant. Yolo County Public Defender Tracie Olson noted that people can be jailed for missing court.
"Being jailed even for a few days disrupts employment and housing and causes other hardships in family units," Olson said. "A text reminder system helps people stay on track. I will certainly encourage clients to sign up."
Yolo Superior Court CEO Shawn Landry also praised the system, pointing out that text reminders are already a huge part of most people's lives.
"We are excited about this public access tool that provides parties hearing dates, times and courtroom information needed to appear at court," Landry emphasized. "Most people already use text notification reminders for dentist appointments or other commitments in our daily lives, this is no different. It is really a win-win; a convenience for parties and it will reduce the number of postponements and failures to appear."
Although most case types are eligible for text notification, there are some case types that are not available for this program due to strict confidentiality requirements.
"I commend the court for using innovation to streamline the criminal justice system," Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said. "The rate of people failing to appear in court has been very high over the years. Most people don't intentionally miss court and for those, getting text reminders will be extremely beneficial."
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