The report suggests that by embracing principles of fairness, swiftness, authority and a focus on people as well as cases, our criminal courts can do more to reduce crime and make better use of resources. The report highlights 11 case studies that exemplify better court innovation.
In 2009, the Center for Court Innovation received funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to enhance drug court programming for young adults in the Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York. As part of that effort, experts from around the country participated in a roundtable discussion about the challenges of young adults in drug courts and explored some promising practices for meeting their needs. This report summarizes that discussion.
The results from a survey of over 600 national criminal justice leaders provides a snapshot of the current state of innovation in criminal justice. It seeks to answer such questions as: Is innovation a priority? Are criminal justice leaders aware of emerging research? Do they use research to inform policymaking? What obstacles stand in the way of innovation?
This presentation highlights the main findings of a national survey of more than 600 police chiefs, state chief judges, elected prosecutors, and probation and parole officials on their views on innovation and leadership.
This statewide evaluation of New York's adult drug courts finds modest reductions in re-arrest over a three year study period, with wide variation in impact across the 86 sites. In fact, while the most effective courts reduce re-arrest by up to 21 percent, the least effective courts increase re-arrest.
This report summarizes results of a mental health screen administered to 812 youths sentenced to community supervision in New York City. Half of the sample were identified as having a mental disorder and close to four in ten showed multiple disorders. The report identifies distinct clusters of disorders that tend to co-occur and examines the relationship between different disorders and recidivism. For example, depression and anxiety were associated with an increased likelihood of re-arrest, whereas suicidality was associated with a decreased likelihood of re-arrest.
This study examines the impact of the Staten Island Youth Court on case outcomes for 16- and 17-year-olds arraigned on shoplifting charges and finds a sharp reduction in guilty pleas and an increase in conditional dismissals (with Youth Court participation typically serving as the condition).
This fact sheet is meant to aid domestic violence court planners and practitioners in collaborating with system-based and community-based victim advocacy services.