Overcoming Obstacles to Community Courts: A Summary of Workshop Proceedings

This is a summary of proceedings at an Overcoming Obstacles to Community Courts Workshop held December 4-5, 1997. Representatives from six major urban centers and two smaller cities discussed their need for a court process that imposes immediate, meaningful sanctions on offenders, is visible to the community, and has the capacity to address the social problems that underlie minor, quality-of-life crimes. They agreed on the desirability of developing court relationships with businesses, civic groups and universities, and on sharing information. The large cities envisioned community courts based in neighborhoods, while smaller cities were planning centrally located courts to serve the entire city. Other differences in approach and potential obstacles involved varying jail space capacities, local politics, funding, system resistance, and community and social service needs.