A publication of the Center for Court Innovation and the New York State Unified Court System, Drug Courts: Personal Stories shares the accounts of the men and women who have turned their lives around by participating in New York’s drug courts—and the judges and case managers who help make this change happen.
Judge Bonner recently stepped down from the Seattle Community Court after presiding over it since its opening in March 2005. He has served on Seattle’s Municipal Court bench for nearly two decades. In February 2007 he spoke with Center for Court Innovation staff about the community court.
Michael Schrunk has been the district attorney in Multnomah County, Oregon, for over 25 years, and has been the leader in several innovative justice initiatives. He launched Portland’s community prosecution program in 1990 and helped to open Portland’s first community court in 1998. In February 2007 he spoke with Center for Court Innovation staff about his experiences with both.
A mini-documentary based on the hour-long "Red Hook Justice," which aired on PBS. This video, by award-winning film maker Meema Spadola, offers a look into the workings of this innovative justice center.
Written by the 16 teenage members of the 2005-2006 Youth Justice Board, this report makes recommendations to help to reduce disruptive behavior, prevent crime, and improve the safety of New York City schools.
Phillip McDonald is the court programs administrator for the Atlanta Community Court. He spoke with Center staff about the neighborhood Restorative Boards being developed and expanded under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community-Based Problem-Solving Criminal Justice Initiative.
This collection of research reports, written by Center for Court Innovation staff, analyzes the impact of a broad range of problem-solving initiatives launched in New York State and nationwide over the past decade.
D. Alan Henry is director emeritus of the Pretrial Services Resource Center, based in Los Angeles. He has testified before numerous state and Congressional committees, written extensively about pretrial issues, and provided technical assistance in the areas of jail overcrowding, pretrial release, supervision, and diversion to state, local, and federal officials in both adult and juvenile systems. He spoke with Center staff about pretrial diversion.
The initial planning and implementation of the Oswego Sex Offense Court saw both challenges and benefits. The Honorable James McCarthy, the first of the New York State dedicated Sex Offense Court judges, discussed this planning process with the Center for Court Innovation:
