STATEWIDE COURT APPEARANCE PROJECT FINAL REPORT. Recommendations to Address Court Appearance Issues in North Carolina

By The Statewide Appearance Project

In North Carolina, about 18% of criminal cases have at least one missed court date, resulting in at least 250,000 missed hearings per year. Most missed appearances occur in low-level cases, with administrative traffic misdemeanor charges accounting for the greatest number of missed court dates. Missed appearances have numerous consequences, including case delays that decrease system efficiency and increase strain on limited court and law enforcement resources. In North Carolina, missed appearances in low-level cases are a significant driver of jail bookings, leading to pressure on jail budgets and jail overcrowding. Additionally, license revocations imposed after a missed appearance prevent one in ten driving-age North Carolinians from legally driving, making it harder for them to appear in court in the future, get to work, and care for themselves and their families. Fortunately, evidence-based solutions can address court appearance issues. In this project, the Statewide Court Appearance Project Committee considered the data and evidence, listened to experts, and robustly evaluated a range of court appearance solutions used in North Carolina and around the nation. Its members unanimously present the following recommendations to both promote court appearance and provide alternative system responses to missed appearances in North Carolina.   

North Carolina Judicial Branch, 2025. 82p.