In September 2005, the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice funded ten demonstration projects under its new Community-Based Problem-Solving Criminal Justice Initiative. The following edited excerpt was taken from San Diego’s winning proposal.
This community-based problem-solving criminal justice initiative involves the planning and implementation of a community court model to serve the Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Mission Bay Park communities, known as the Beach Area, in the City of San Diego. The lead agency is the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, working in partnership with the San Diego Superior Court, San Diego Police Department, other criminal justice agencies, and community-based organizations.
The proposed Beach Area Community Court will focus on adult offenders who commit misdemeanors and infractions, especially low-level alcohol-related offenses, that impact the local quality of life. Eligible offenders who choose to participate will be diverted from the San Diego Superior Court. They will be held accountable to the community by attending a community impact panel and performing community service. They will also be screened and referred as appropriate to educational and rehabilitative programs to curb future criminal conduct, with compliance closely monitored. Community members will serve on an Advisory Board, overseeing the Court’s development and implementation.
The Beach Area Community Court will join the City of San Diego’s two existing community courts, the Downtown Community Court and the Mid-City Community Court, in a community court network dedicated to sharing resources and best practices, with the goal of improving community-based criminal justice throughout the City of San Diego.