NCJ Number
27676
Date Published
1974
Length
128 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE PHILOSOPHY, STRUCTURE, OPERATION, AND BUDGET OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE COMPONENT PROJECTS - THE MEDIATION PROJECT, THE DISPOSITION PANEL, AND THE VICTIM SERVICES PROJECT.
Abstract
THE URBAN COURT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE COURTCOMMUNITY RELATIONS AND TO PROVIDE A MORE PERSONAL, COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED FORM OF JUSTICE. A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN COURT PROPOSAL AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS COURT SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED. THE DORCHESTER COMMUNITY IN BOSTON, WHERE THIS PROGRAM IS FOCUSED, IS ALSO DESCRIBED. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS PHASES OF THE URBAN COURT PROJECT ARE THEN PRESENTED. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO BE: 1) THE MEDIATION PROJECT, WHICH WILL RESOLVE MINOR, POTENTIALLY 'CRIMINAL' DISPUTES IN A MANNER THAT SATISFIES THE PARTIES THAT JUSTICE HAS OCCURRED; 2) THE DISPOSITION PANEL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE JUDGE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REASONABLE AND EFFECTIVE DISPOSITIONS IN SELECTED CASES; AND 3) THE VICTIM SERVICES PROJECT, WHICH WILL ORIENT THE VICTIM OR WITNESS TO THE CRIMINAL PROCESS AND ATTEMPT TO AMELIORATE THE VICTIM'S PAIN OR LOSS THROUGH PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THE NEEDS, OBJECTIVES, EXPECTED BENEFITS, APPROACH, AND BUDGET OF EACH OF THESE COMPONENT PROJECTS ARE DISCUSSED.