International Community Court Conferences

Every two years, we bring together passionate people dedicated to innovations in community justice.
The 2020 Community Courts and Public Safety conference is December 4.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Center for Court Innovation hosts a biennial conference with an audience of practitioners and researchers to explore promising ideas in justice reform. This year, the Community Courts and Public Safety Conference will be a one-day virtual convening hosted on Friday, December 4, 2020. Attendees can use the hashtag #commcourts to join the conversation!
Register Now →About the Conference
Architect Deanna Van Buren delivers a keynote address on the promise of restorative justice.
Community courts have been committed to harnessing the power of the justice system to address local problems and improve public safety for over 25 years. Contributing to a dynamic national dialogue about justice reform, the conference will explore topics such as effective practices to reduce recidivism; addressing challenges at the nexus of homelessness and justice system involvement; building effective community partnerships; incorporating restorative justice into court programs; lessons learned from planning community courts; effective justice system responses to substance use disorder; and the future of community justice.
Additional Details
- View the Agenda at a Glance
- View the full agenda
- Request CLE and CEU credits
- Send us an email for questions or assistance
- See videos and interviews from the Community Justice 2018 conference in Birmingham, Alabama
Register today →

Cleveland Police Commander Jonny Johnson shares strategies for building effective law enforcement partnerships.

Center for Court Innovation Director Greg Berman, Fulton County D.A. Paul Howard, and Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton

Over the course of three days, the conference featured more than 20 panels and smaller breakout discussions.

Dawn Deaner, Metropolitan Public Defender for Nashville-Davidson County: "It's up to us to engage all."
Previous Community Justice Summits
Since 2010, the Center for Court Innovation and the Bureau of Justice Assistance have hosted biennial international conferences for community justice practitioners. For more information on previous summits:
- Community Justice 2018 (Birmingham)
- Community Justice 2016 (Chicago)
- Community Justice 2014 (San Francisco)
- Community Justice 2012 (Washington, D.C.)
- Community Justice 2010 (Dallas)