Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) has developed three explainer videos as additional tools for guiding court-involved individuals through court processes and procedures.
At SMC, we understand that receiving a ticket or being summoned to court can be a stressful time, and that court processes may be difficult to navigate. We are pleased to release three new videos developed to provide additional insight into our court processes so individuals can feel more knowledgeable about their options and better prepared for their court experience.
- Ticket Explainer: This video is for individuals who have received a ticket, citation, or infraction requiring action at Seattle Municipal Court. It emphasizes the importance of responding before the due date, and gives details about how to pay, mitigate, or contest the ticket. It also explains how to find a ticket using our online portal. The ticket explainer video can be found on our website here.
- Probation Explainer: This video describes what a client can expect during their time on probation. It includes information about meeting with their probation counselor and the phases of probation. It also gives insight into what a case plan is and what is required for a client to stay “in compliance.” The probation explainer video can be found on our website here.
- Criminal Court Explainer: This video provides an overview of the criminal court process at Seattle Municipal Court. It covers topics such as receiving a summons, entering pleas, and attending arraignments, hearings, and trials. It also discusses information about obtaining an attorney and requesting an interpreter. The criminal court explainer video can be found on our website here.
The videos are being translated into Spanish versions that will be published online once they are available.
SMC would like to thank our partners at The Vida Agency and the court staff who assisted with the development of these videos. Your efforts have moved us one step further toward our goal of evolving court services to better center those we serve and modeling a culture rooted in equity and inclusion.