Theron Bowman began his law enforcement career with the Arlington Police Department in Arlington, Texas—a city of over 300,000—nearly 25 years ago, just before its community policing program began. He has been chief of police since 1999. In January 2007, he participated in a roundtable, assembled by the Center for Court Innovation and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to discuss failure and innovation in criminal justice, a transcript of which is scheduled to be published in the first issue of the Journal of Court Innovation in the fall of 2007.
Written by the 2006-2007 Youth Justice Board, this report proposes 14 specific recommendations to improve the court experiences and outcomes for adolescents in foster care.
Cass County District Court Judge John P. Smith and Leech Lake Tribal Court Chief Judge Korey Wahwassuck have worked together since 2006 presiding over the post-conviction, post-sentencing Driving While Intoxicated Court in Cass County, Minnesota. They spoke with Center for Court Innovation staff about the innovative, collaborative program.
A detailed look at a one of the first felony mental health courts in the country, this article describes why the court's planning team chose to focus on felonies rather than misdemeanors and how the court and its partners manage potential public safety risks.
A paper outlining best practice recommendations for courts hearing domestic violence cases, emphasizing that judges should consider financial support and other issues with victim safety in mind.
A study conducted in collaboration with VCS Inc. that examines how criminal courts respond when domestic violence offenders are noncompliant with a court mandate to a batterer program. The study, based on a national survey of courts, batterer programs, and victim assistance agencies in all 50 states, detected overwhelming support for the goal of "accountability" in theory but a gap between theory and practice. A brief article highlighting the major findings appeared in Judicature.
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.