Source: (2002) Community Justice Series #2. Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.
The author sketches the rise of community courts in solving complex neighborhood problems and building stronger communities. Examples of matters addressed by the courts are criminal cases, juvenile delinquency, and even housing code violations. As cities and towns have developed community courts, the courts have taken different forms. Key aspects of community courts and issues facing them are covered by the author: planning and locating a community court; social services and punishment; types of cases to be handled; the role of the community; and the effects of community courts on the justice system. A significant portion of this paper profiles specific community courts in the United States. Additionally, a number of resources on community courts are listed.
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