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Odyssey Text Messaging Reminder System

Overview

Odyssey courts can send text messages to remind defendants in criminal cases about upcoming hearings. The initiative is aimed at reducing the number of people who fail to appear in court—which can result in an arrest warrant being issued. Evidence shows reminders can be effective in reducing costly failure to appear rates. The reminders are also part of best practices designed to ensure community safety and fairness to defendants.


How It Works

The texts are sent automatically in any criminal case if there is a cell phone number for the defendant stored electronically by the court, the court is an Odyssey court, and the county has opted into the text system. There is no charge to the county to participate.

Reminders are sent 5 days and 1 day in advance of a hearing from either of the following phone numbers: 317-316-0810 or 317-286-6725. If a text message has been sent but the hearing is cancelled or rescheduled, another message is sent. Recipients can opt out by texting STOP in reply.


Courts Using the System

The system became available in May 2018. As of May 2021 it is in use by the following counties:

Adams
Allen 
Bartholomew
Boone
Brown
Carroll 
Cass
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Crawford
Daviess
Decatur 
Dekalb
Delaware
Dubois
Elkhart
Fayette
Fountain
Fulton
Gibson 
Grant
Greene
Hamilton
Hancock
Hendricks
Henry
Howard

Jackson
Jasper
Jay
Jefferson
Kosciusko
LaGrange 
Lake
LaPorte
Madison
Marshall
Martin 
Miami
Montgomery
Morgan
Newton
Noble 
Ohio
Orange
Owen
Parke
Perry
Pike
Porter
Pulaski
Putnam
Rush
Scott
Shelby

Spencer 
St. Joseph
Starke
Steuben
Sullivan
Tippecanoe
Tipton
Vanderburgh
Vermillion 
Vigo
Wabash
Warren
Wayne
Wells
White
Whitley

City/Town
Carmel City
East Chicago 
Elkhart City 
Elwood 
Goshen City
Hobart City
Knox City
Merrillville Town
Plainfield Town
Terre Haute City


Contact Information

For defendants interested in receiving court hearing text reminders, please contact the county clerk. A defendant may need to appear in person at the clerk's office and show photo ID to have their cell number added to their case.

Individuals who believe they are receiving the text messages in error should contact the clerk or court for the court case number indicated in the text message. Go to mycase.in.gov to find specific case information.

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