Hennepin County public defenders use new app to text with defendants

A California-based tech startup is partnering with the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office to provide a service that connects attorneys directly to their clients.

Uptrust is a secure, text messaging app that allows public defenders to send tailored notifications and updates to defendants. The reminders are typically centered around upcoming court appearances.

Jacob Sills, co-founder and CEO, said the company donated a years’ worth of service to the public defender’s office in Hennepin County after the death of George Floyd this summer.

He said the app is unique from other court e-reminders because it allows clients to respond.

"In a two-way system, it’s much friendlier, more engaged, they can ask questions," Sills said in a recent interview. "Thirty percent of the time we get a response. The number one response we get is ‘thank you’, followed by ‘OK.’"

Mary Moriarty, chief public defender in Hennepin County, said the app will dramatically change how attorneys can communicate with their clients, which she hopes will result in fewer situations where the court issues an arrest warrant because the defendant failed to appear.

"Our lawyers can be in court, waiting for the client to come and the client can text them and say, ‘my car broke down, my ride didn’t come, my child care fell through,’ and so then our lawyer can directly tell the judge, ‘here’s what’s going on,’ and save that client from getting a bench warrant," she said.

The app launched two weeks ago and already attorneys are finding it is helping.

Monica Miller was recently representing a client on a virtual court hearing when the defendant had trouble logging in.

"I was able to real-time, text the client through the Uptrust application… and was able to guide her through live, to make sure she was in the right place," Miller said.

Moriarty said in the next year, she hopes the app results in better outcomes and proves to be a critical tool in the criminal justice system.