What Happens When 52% of Defendants Miss Their Court Date?

According to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), studies have found that in some jurisdictions, as many as 52% of misdemeanor cases involve a missed court appearance.

The Impact Goes Beyond the Courtroom

NCSC identifies several ways missed appearances affect court operations, including increased workloads, disrupted caseflow, additional staffing demands, financial costs, and impacts on public trust. A case may need to be rescheduled.

Notices may need to be generated. Court records may need to be updated. Judges, clerks, attorneys, witnesses, and other participants may have already dedicated time to a hearing that can no longer move forward as planned.

But a missed appearance doesn't always mean someone simply chose not to show up.

People may forget their court date, fail to receive a notice, misunderstand court communications, or struggle to find the information they need to navigate an unfamiliar process.

Making Court Information Easier to Access

That's where better access to court information can make a difference.

Accessible tools can give people a reliable place to find information before their appearance. Digital tools such as court-specific web agents and mobile access to hearing schedules can take that a step further. These tools can help users find answers to common questions and access their hearing date and time without requiring a phone call or adding another routine inquiry to a clerk's workload.

Combined with clear, plain-language communication, these tools can help people better understand when they need to appear, where they need to go, and what they need to do when they get there.

Technology won't prevent every missed court appearance. But making accurate court information easier to access can remove some of the confusion that contributes to them, while helping court staff spend less time answering routine questions.

Sometimes, a better court experience starts before someone ever walks through the courthouse doors.

Source: National Center for State Courts (NCSC), Court Appearance Rates and Missing in Actions: How Low Appearance Rates Impact Courts (2026).