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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
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