Funding Available for Community Justice

Community courts seek to improve neighborhood safety and engage residents in solving local problems. Researchers have documented that community courts help to reduce recidivism and the use of jail while improving public trust in justice. Since the launch of the first community court in Midtown, Manhattan, the model has expanded to new jurisdictions, new settings (including libraries), and new populations (including veterans).

Some cities have also sought to "go to scale" with community justice, applying community court principles and practices broadly across an entire jurisdiction.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Center for Court Innovation is excited to announce the 2018 Community Court Grant Program. Assistance is available in three categories: (1) funding and technical assistance to create or enhance a community court; (2) funding and technical assistance for an impact evaluation of an established community court; and (3) recognition of, and technical assistance to, community courts that wish to serve as mentors to the field.

The solicitation announcement and application instructions are available here. Proposals are due on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 by 5pm EDT.

You can learn more about the community court model at our upcoming Community Courts and Public Safety Conference in Birmingham, Alabama on May 7-9, 2018. Register here for free.