National Community Court Initiative: 2016 and 2018 Cohorts

State of Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts, Wilmington, DE (2018)

The Wilmington community court serves the entire city of Wilmington, covering nearly 17 square miles and over 70,000 residents. The project is a multi-jurisdictional collaboration between the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and Justice of the Peace Court. The project focuses services on substance abuse, mental health, housing, life skills, and importantly, the creation of job opportunities. Key partners will include the Judiciary, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Defense Services, the Governor’s Office, the Mayor’s Office, Wilmington City Council, Wilmington Police, New Castle County Police, the Department of Labor, the Division of Substance Abuse, and Mental Health, and many more.

Fort Lauderdale Community Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2018)

The Fort Lauderdale community court addresses ordinance violations within the downtown and entertainment districts of the city, with a special focus on improving service delivery for individuals experiencing homelessness. Key partners include the chief judge Jack Tuter of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Mayor Dean Trantalis, city prosecutor, court administrator, City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Henderson Behavioral Health, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Broward County, Sunserve, Care Resource, OIC of South Florida, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Second Chance Society.

Puyallup Community Court, Puyallup, WA (2018) 

The Puyallup community court serves the entire city of Puyallup which includes over 14 square miles and 40,000 residents. The program co-locates social services at the central courthouse to better serve a population that is geographically isolated from needed services. Key project partners include the presiding judge of the municipal court, chief of police, city prosecutor, public defender, court administrator, and several service providers. 

Music City Community Court, Nashville, TN (2018)

Community court project C.A.R.E. (Creating Avenues for Restoration and Empowerment) serves the entire city of Nashville which includes over 500 square miles and a population of over 625,000 residents. The community court is geared toward young adults, ages 18-26 who plead guilty to non-violent felonies and misdemeanors. Key partners include Judge Rachel L. Bell, the District Attorney, Glenn Funk, the Public Defender, Martesha Johnson, Anne-Louise Wirthlin with the TN Administrative Office of Courts and a number of community resource service providers.

Cleveland Community Court, Cleveland, OH (2016)

The Cleveland Municipal Court operates a community court serving the entire city (pop: 385,000) plus the neighboring Village of Bratenahl. The project includes the use of a risk/needs assessment tool, as well as a process and impact evaluation.

Eugene Community Court, Eugene, OR (2016)

The City of Eugene operates a community court to serve the city's downtown core, resolving misdemeanors and violations through community service and service mandates. The court's sessions are heard in the downtown library, which also provides a separate room for service providers. 

Honolulu Community Outreach Court, Honolulu, HI (2016)

The City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the district court and the office of the public defender, operates a community court serving the entire city and county of Honolulu (pop: 349,000) – the community with the highest per capita rate of homelessness in the United States. The court resolve quality-of-life offenses with community service and linkages to social services.

Jersey City Community Solutions, Jersey City, NJ (2016)

Jersey City operates a community court calendar for its municipal court, in which 75% of cases heard are for quality-of-life offenses. The project serves the entire city (pop: 262,000).

Philadelphia Accelerated Misdemeanor Program, Philadelphia, PA (2016)

The Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corporation, in partnership with the municipal court, district attorney’s office, and Defender Association of Philadelphia, operates the city’s five neighborhood-based “AMP” court which provides participants with access to mental health services and uses evidence-based practices.

Restorative Justice Community Court, Cook County, IL (2016)

"Punishment is not the key, healing is the key."

– Chief Judge Timothy Evans, presiding judge, Circuit Court of Cook County

The Circuit Court of Cook County operates a community court serving young adults (ages 18-26) in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's west side (pop: 40,000). In addition to service linkages, the court uses restorative justice conferences.

Second Chance Community Improvement Court, Dallas, TX (2016)

"A community court should be a leader in the community, it should collaborate with community members."

– Molita Strong, Coordinator of SCCIP [Second Chance Community Improvement Program], Dallas Community Court

The Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, in partnership with the district court and the district attorney’s office, operates a community court serving young adults (ages 17-25) arrested on misdemeanor and some felony charges. The court is co-located with the South Dallas Community Court and serves the same geographic catchment area.