These community courts enhance assistance provided by the Center for Justice Innovation by serving as regional resources for jurisdictions looking to implement similar community justice initiatives.
Overview
In September 2018, the Center for Justice Innovation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, chose community courts in Dallas, Texas; Olympia, Wash.; Orange County, Calif.; and Spokane, Wash., to serve as mentor courts for jurisdictions seeking to enhance procedural justice and promote the use of community justice and, where appropriate, alternatives to jail.
In 2024, the Center expanded its collaboration with mentor courts by launching a new program within the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s FY2023 Community Courts Initiative. A second cohort of mentor court sites, some of which overlap with the 2018 group, will work with Center technical assistance staff to provide active support to current grantee sites under the initiative. The selected mentor courts are located in Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Dallas, Texas; Orange County, Calif.; and Spokane, Wash.
The mentor community courts—which were chosen in a competitive application process—host site visits, answer questions over the phone or internet from justice reformers, and participate in conferences and workshops. Practitioners interested in taking advantage of the mentor sites’ expertise are encouraged to contact the courts directly.
Learn more about each cohort below.
2024 Cohort
In September 2018, the Center for Justice Innovation, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, chose community courts to serve as mentor courts for jurisdictions seeking to enhance procedural justice and promote the use of community justice and, where appropriate, alternatives to jail. In 2024, the Center expanded its collaboration with this second cohort of mentor court sites, some of which overlap with the 2018 group, will work with Center technical assistance staff to provide active support to current grantee sites under the initiative.
