For jurisdictions seeking to create or revise a domestic violence benchbook, this document reviews themes and best practices captured in similar guides around the country.
This book chapter by the Center for Court Innovation's research director summarizes the research demonstrating that the problem-solving judicial role directly contributes to reduced criminal behavior among program participants. The chapter also discusses individualized justice (assessing and responding to the needs of each defendant) and predictability (using standardized tools and generating clear expectations). Available in Offender Release and Supervision: The Role of Courts and the Use of Discretion, ed. Martine Herzog-Evans. Oisterwijk, Netherlands: Wolf Legal Publishers.
In January of 2015, New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman visited the Center for Court Innovation for a one-on-one conversation with Greg Berman. Topics ranged from the challenges of implementing justice reforms, managing fiscal crises, the value of strongly worded dissents, and how Judge Lippman likes to relax. This is an edited transcript of that wide-ranging conversation.
For communities that have established a specialized domestic violence court, a self-assessment is an opportunity to revisit the goals and objectives identified as part of the initial planning process.
Programs focused on reducing gun violence, particularly public health initiatives such as Save Our Streets Crown Heights, are in a unique position to address the trauma that many young men of color experience. This fact sheet outlines strategies for violence interrupter programs to use in addressing trauma among their participants.
This Brooklyn Justice Initiatives annual report outlines the first year of a supervised release program that aims to reduce pre-trial detention for misdemeanor defendants in Brooklyn, New York.
This report provides a process and outcome evaluation of QUEST Futures, a program designed to reduce repeat offending by young people with mental illnesses in the juvenile justice system by providing mental health assessments, treatment planning, service coordination and family support.
This report presents the results from a process evaluation examining the first three and a half years of the Manhattan Mental Health Court, a specialized docket for offenders with mental illness established in March 2011. Results from a mixed-methods research design found that the largest portion of participants (40%) were charged with property-related offenses. Seventy-three percent of participants were diagnosed as suffering from more than one serious mental illness and 63% were diagnosed with a co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
This study examines the work of the Red Hook Community Justice Center’s Peacemaking Program, which uses traditional Native American practices to resolve disputes. Participants can avoid the justice system by participating in peacemaking sessions and reaching a consensus agreement for restitution and repair.