NCJ Number
236850
Date Published
November 2011
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Following an overview of the core features of a community court, this paper poses and answers key questions about starting and operating a community court, followed by profiles of selected community courts.
Abstract
When it opened in 1995, New York City's Midtown Community Court was an innovative departure from the traditional court system. By mid-2010, approximately 40 replications had been started across the Nation. Although these community courts have many differences, they have a set of common principles and practices. First, court staff received specialized training in dealing with issues before the court, such as drug addiction and mental illness, as well improved information on defendants, victims, and the community context of crime. Second, community courts focused on community engagement in helping the court to identify, prioritize, and solve local problems. Third, community courts established collaboration among justice practitioners, such as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and court managers, as well as potential stakeholders beyond the courthouse, including social service providers, residents, victims groups, and schools. This improved interagency communication, builds trust between citizens and government, and fosters new responses to problems. Fourth, community courts provided "individualized justice," which involves using evidence-based risk and needs assessment instruments in order to link offenders to individually tailored community-based services. Fifth, community courts emphasized accountability through community restitution mandates and compliance monitoring, with consequences attached to noncompliance. Fifth, the court monitored case outcomes by collecting and analyzing data that measure the effectiveness of court actions in achieving intended goals. The questions posed and answered about starting and operating community courts pertain to initial planning, the selection of communities to be served and the court location, how the courts should use alternative sanctions, and whether community courts create system change. 11 suggested readings and information sources