Court Navigator Pilot Program Launches at Buncombe County Courthouse

Buncombe County -- March 28, 2023: Buncombe County Government Community News Marc 2023:
As part of a widespread effort to reduce instances of missed court dates and offer more support

To justice-impacted individuals, Buncombe County Justice Services is launching a Court Navigator pilot program.

Justice Services is happy to welcome Betsy Chavez to the Court Navigator role. Chavez is bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) and will serve as that first point of contact for courthouse visitors and provide immediate and direct assistance and customer service. The pilot program strives to help reduce failure to appear charges by helping connect people to the court reminder notification program and will be based at an information kiosk in the main lobby of the Buncombe County Courthouse. The Court Navigator can provide:

Directions/wayfinding to assist people in getting where they need to go in the building
Help people sign up for an automated court reminder system
Linkage/referrals to justice system and/or community resources for supportive services such as the Justice Resource Center
“The innovative Court Navigation Program can challenge the barriers of access to our Court System,” notes District Court Judge Honorable Julie M. Kepple. “Many folks that walk through our courthouse doors experience anxiety, fear, concern and even trauma. Just trying to find the right courtroom or juggling multiple court dates can be stressful and overwhelming. A trained Courthouse Navigator can intervene by providing a more user-friendly approach to navigating our courts.”

This pilot program is funded by the Safety and Justice Challenge and is contracted through Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina. Through collaboration with the Justice Resource Center, Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, and Judicial Branch partners, the Court Navigator can help address initial needs for court appearances. "More than 9,000 individuals have entered the Buncombe County courthouse so far in 2023," says Buncombe County Sheriff Miller. "We know navigating the criminal justice system can be very challenging, but this new position will make a difference and assist our deputies in better serving our community as they conduct business and go to court." 

For help in the courthouse, individuals can find the kiosk in the lobby, or contact the Justice Resource Center at (828) 250-6401. Sign up for automated court date reminders at  https://buncombenc.courtdates.org/

Pilot Court Orientation Program Launched at Buncombe County Courthouse
As part of an overall effort to reduce missed court dates and provide more support to those affected by justice, the Services The Buncombe County Justice Department is launching a pilot Court Orientation Program.

Justice Services is pleased to welcome Betsy Chavez to the role of court counselor. Chávez is bilingual (she is fluent in Spanish and English) and she will be the first point of contact for courthouse visitors, providing immediate and direct assistance and customer service. The pilot program strives to help reduce default charges, and helps connect people to the court's reminder notification program and will be based at an information table in the main lobby of the Buncombe County Courthouse. With guidance in court you can get the following:

directions to help you get to your destination in the building
help signing up for an automated court reminder system
connections/referrals to the court system and/or community resources for support services such as the Justice Resource Center
“The innovative navigation program can challenge barriers to access to the judicial system,” said District Court Judge the Honorable Julie M. Kepple. “Many people who walk through our courthouse doors experience anxiety, fear, worry and even trauma. Just trying to find the right courtroom or juggling multiple court dates can be stressful and overwhelming. A court-trained counselor can step in by providing an easier approach to getting through our courts.”

This pilot program is funded by the Safety and Justice Challenge and is contracted through Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina. Through collaboration with the Justice Resource Center, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, and judiciary partners, the Court Counselor can help address the initial needs of court appearances. Buncombe County Sheriff Miller notes that "more than 9,000 people have entered the Buncombe County Courthouse so far in 2023. We know that navigating the court system can be very difficult, but this new position will make all the difference and help our deputies to better serve our community while doing their jobs and attending court.”

For help in court, people can find the table in the lobby or contact the Justice Resource Center at (828) 250-6401. Sign up for automatic court date reminders at  https://buncombenc.courtdates.org/