National Community Court Initiative: 2016 Cohort

Cleveland Community Court, Cleveland, OH (2016)

The Cleveland Municipal Court operates a community court serving the entire city (pop: 385,000) plus the neighboring Village of Bratenahl. The project includes the use of a risk/needs assessment tool, as well as a process and impact evaluation.

Eugene Community Court, Eugene, OR (2016)

The City of Eugene operates a community court to serve the city's downtown core, resolving misdemeanors and violations through community service and service mandates. The court's sessions are heard in the downtown library, which also provides a separate room for service providers. 

Honolulu Community Outreach Court, Honolulu, HI (2016)

The City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the district court and the office of the public defender, operates a community court serving the entire city and county of Honolulu (pop: 349,000) – the community with the highest per capita rate of homelessness in the United States. The court resolve quality-of-life offenses with community service and linkages to social services.

Jersey City Community Solutions, Jersey City, NJ (2016)

Jersey City operates a community court calendar for its municipal court, in which 75% of cases heard are for quality-of-life offenses. The project serves the entire city (pop: 262,000).

Philadelphia Accelerated Misdemeanor Program, Philadelphia, PA (2016)

The Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corporation, in partnership with the municipal court, district attorney’s office, and Defender Association of Philadelphia, operates the city’s five neighborhood-based “AMP” court which provides participants with access to mental health services and uses evidence-based practices.

Restorative Justice Community Court, Cook County, IL (2016)

"Punishment is not the key, healing is the key."

– Chief Judge Timothy Evans, presiding judge, Circuit Court of Cook County

The Circuit Court of Cook County operates a community court serving young adults (ages 18-26) in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's west side (pop: 40,000). In addition to service linkages, the court uses restorative justice conferences.

Second Chance Community Improvement Court, Dallas, TX (2016)

"A community court should be a leader in the community, it should collaborate with community members."

– Molita Strong, Coordinator of SCCIP [Second Chance Community Improvement Program], Dallas Community Court

The Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, in partnership with the district court and the district attorney’s office, operates a community court serving young adults (ages 17-25) arrested on misdemeanor and some felony charges. The court is co-located with the South Dallas Community Court and serves the same geographic catchment area.