The Scottish Association for the Study of Offending Glasgow Branch Annual Conference 12 May 2008...
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The Scottish Association for the Study of Offending Glasgow Branch Annual Conference 12 May 2008 Community Courts: Bringing Community Justice into the Court System Julius Lang
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Transcript of The Scottish Association for the Study of Offending Glasgow Branch Annual Conference 12 May 2008...
The Scottish Association for the Study of OffendingGlasgow Branch Annual Conference
12 May 2008
Community Courts:
Bringing Community Justiceinto the Court System
Julius Lang
2 primary roles
Demonstration Expert Assistance
Goals:• reduce crime, • aid victims,
• strengthen neighborhoods, and • promote public confidence in justice
Community Courts: hubs to shift practice in high volume areas
• neighborhood focus
-harness power of justice system
-help solve local problems
What if . . .
. . . one sheriff assigned to cover particular area?
. . . community involvement in planning and operation?
. . . full menu of community sentences? . . . linkage to social services, through
combination of mandate and voluntary engagement, within building if possible?
. . . community “paid back” through unpaid work service?
Red Hook DVD
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
Community Involvement
• Needs assessment• Advisory board• Court-sponsored
public forums/ meetings• Volunteer
opportunities• Identification of
sites for unpaid work
• Community impact panels
• On-going community outreach
• Community surveys
• Mediation• Community
access to services
7 Examples of Outcomes
• Increased use of Community Sentences: use of community service sanctions rose from 29% to 69%
• Increased Compliance: 75% vs 50%
• Swifter Justice: 40% reduction in arrest to arraignment time
• Crime Reduction: Street prostitution drops 56%; Unlicensed vending down 24%; Red Hook top NYC precinct for two-year reduction in major crime
• Increased Public Support: 57% would pay more taxes; Approval ratings of courts from 11% to 71%
• Reduced Levels of Fear: Percentage of Red Hook residents afraid to go to the parks or subway has dropped 45 percent – from 77% to 43%
• Increased Procedural Fairness: 85% felt case handled fairly; 93% felt that the judge treated them fairly
International Experiments
• Australia• Canada• England and Wales• Ireland• New Zealand• South Africa • USA
International Experiments
• Australia• Canada• England and Wales• Ireland• New Zealand• Scotland• South Africa • USA
Red Hook Community Justice Center, Brooklyn USA
Melbourne, Australia
