Overview
This 2024 cohort of the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s National Community Court Grant Initiative focuses on housing, mental health treatment and support, and misdemeanor diversion to improve equity in the justice system.
Albany Works! – Albany, GA
Program Contact: Dr. Debra T. Wiley
Albany Works! is an innovative restorative justice initiative aimed at transforming the lives of individuals with Municipal Court violations in Albany, Georgia. The program fosters self-sufficiency through individualized action plans centered on education, employment, community support, and restorative justice. This multi-faceted approach demonstrates a commitment to transforming individuals into productive, engaged members of the community.
Mobile Court (Austin Community Court) – Austin, TX
Program Contact: Sarah Rodriguez
Austin Community Court is a problem-solving, fine-only court that empowers people to thrive by providing impartial justice and compassionate community-based services. The Mobile Court meets people where they are already accessing services throughout the community to help them resolve cases and outstanding warrants, while providing on-site connection to a case manager and social service resources. It primarily serves Central Texas residents with Class C misdemeanors who are experiencing street homelessness, those who are currently sheltered, or who are severely housing insecure to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and address underlying quality-of-life issues.
Plymouth County Community Court Diversion Program – Brockton, MA
Program Contact: Jeffrey Smith
The Plymouth County Community Court Diversion Program (CCDP) started at the Brockton Public Library in 2025 to better address non-violent misdemeanor charges and to provide access to services for the unhoused and others that may be charged with these types of offenses. Individuals who are court involved check in with the case manager and their probation officer and can be connected to resources based on their individual needs. Local law enforcement and community agencies can also refer individuals they are working with directly to the CCDP to be connected to services. The CCDP serves the City of Brockton as well as the five other communities in the jurisdiction of the Brockton District Court.
Hartford Community Court – Hartford, CT
Program Contact: Brian Austin, Jr.
Established in 1998, the Hartford Community Court is a charge-based court that currently handles most misdemeanors and town ordinance violations for the City of Hartford and eight neighboring towns. As the third oldest community court in the country, it offers on-site social workers, mediation and court-supervised community service to hold individuals accountable while trying to address any underlying issues that may have led to their actions. The Court partners with city and town social workers, local mental health agencies, state social service agencies and community groups to achieve its goals.
Neighborhood Restorative Partnership – Contra Costa, CA
Program Contact: Janet Wright
The Neighborhood Restorative Partnership (NRP) is a community-based, pre-filing program led by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with local police departments. The program diverts low-level misdemeanor offenses from the criminal justice system by bringing the community together to address harm and promote restoration for those impacted. Case managers check in with program participants on a monthly basis to ensure successful completion. Since the program’s inception we have only had one participant reoffend.
Pompano Beach Community Court – Pompano Beach, FL
Program Contact: Cassandra Rhett
Our Community Court is a welcoming, restorative space where neighbors come together to address harm, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the fabric of our neighborhood. Instead of punitive responses, we guide individuals through restorative accountability—processes that acknowledge impact, repair harm, and rebuild trust within the community. We also focus on problem-solving and referrals, connecting people to resources such as housing, employment, mental health support, legal aid, and social services so underlying needs are addressed and cycles of harm are interrupted.
Van Buren County Community Courts – Paw Paw, MI
Program Contact: Cassandra Rhett
The purpose of the Van Buren County Community Court is to enhance public safety and build trust between the criminal justice system and the community in Van Buren County, MI. Over the years, the County has worked to establish a continuum of clinical and recovery services for high-risk/high-need individuals with substance use, mental health, or co-occurring disorders involved with the justice and child welfare systems. However, there was a noticeable gap in coordinated services for individuals that score low-risk/high-need or low-risk/low-need. This funding allows the community court to address individuals who are not eligible for the other problem-solving courts but still have needs to be addressed.