Research

By Julian Adler and Brett Taylor

One of the enduring critiques of community courts is that they are perceived by some to deny defendants their constitutional guarantees of due process of law. Furthermore, it is often alleged that a less-than-zealous defense bar is complicit in the denial of these protections. Responding to this line of criticism, this paper, originally published in The Judges' Journal, contends that community courts can actually enhance defense practice by providing opportunities for heightened advocacy and individualized case resolutions on lower-level criminal matters.

By Nancy Fishman

This article discusses the origins and development of the Staten Island Youth Justice Center's Respite program in the context of New York’s effort to reduce the number of youth in preventive detention. It describes Respite’s first year of operations, including some detailed case studies of youths who have gone through the program and identifies some of the challenges of and lessons learned from putting this model into practice. Published in the New York Law School Law Review (56 N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev.

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By Donald J. Farole, Jr.

This study reports the results of a representative random survey of 1,002 adult residents of New York State concerning their perceptions of the courts. The study found that New Yorkers have high levels of trust and confidence in the courts in general, although racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African-Americans, are far less supportive than are whites. The study also determined, however, that most New Yorkers have little knowledge of how their local courts work, suggesting a possible role for judicial outreach and public education. The survey was administered by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

By Aubrey Fox and Gavin Lockhart

This paper--a joint project of Policy Exchange and the Centre for Justice Innovation--summarizes the experiences of 10 innovative criminal justice projects across the United Kingdom and the United States.

By Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox

Written for the UK think tank NESTA, this essay outlines how the Center for Court Innovation incorporates research and evidence into its day-to-day operations.

David Weisburd, director of the Center for Evidence-based Crime Policy at George Mason University, explains the link between crime and location during his address at Community Justice 2012: the International Conference of Community Courts.

By Robert V. Wolf

A look at how public health principles, practices, and resources can support law enforcement. This report is based on a moderated discussion sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, The California Endowment, and the Center for Court Innovation. A version of this article appeared in the International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, Volume 26, Issue 1, 2012.