My current court does not currently use Citation Smart, but it was implemented at my previous court. There was a direct impact in contact with defendants. My experience has shown that defendants are more likely to act on a text message rather than a phone call. We used text messages as a tool for not only contact with standard first appearance citations but also with our cases in warrant. Having the ability to tailor-create custom text messages was also helpful. AdComp set up a tool for our marshals on their desktops so they could enter a citation number and a message. Our marshals used that as the main avenue to contact defendants with warrants.
We did notice an increase in payments and engagement with citizens with open citations. The public became programmed to see our text messages as reminders for payment plan due dates and court dates.
AdComp was wonderful to work with, especially with customization. They were able to create tools for us to use that no other vendor would assist with. They were able to focus on our specific site rather than only seeking revenue. The team was great to work with. Customization is their specialty.
I would recommend Citation Smart and other services they have. I believe that if more courts engaged with AdComp, our courts would have customized solutions that truly help Texas courts. AdComp is not a one-size-fits-all company. They are always looking to innovate.
I really had a great experience. I would say a downside could be the possibility of moving too fast. But that is different for every site.