Our new report outlines key recommendations to help municipal courts deliver justice in more meaningful ways.
Thousands of people encounter the justice system through local municipal courts each year.
Smaller and more informal than their centralized counterparts, these courts tend to fly under the radar. But that low profile can be misleading. There are roughly 7,500 municipal courts across the country, leaving a significant impact on the people and communities they reach.
Our new roadmap, produced in partnership with JustLeadershipUSA, offers concrete recommendations for new pathways to justice in municipal courts. The report draws from a national conversation with practitioners, researchers, and people who have experienced these courts firsthand.
Read on for four ways local courts can better meet the needs of the communities they serve.
1. Explore new, more supportive ways of resolving cases
While they usually handle offenses considered minor, the impacts of municipal courts are staggering. These courts often rely on financial penalties, collecting more than $2 billion in fines and fees across the United States each year. These penalties disproportionately harm people who are already struggling financially.
Many local courts need the tools and resources to respond more constructively to minor offenses. Assessing people’s ability to pay, sending reminders about upcoming court appearances, and offering community-based services instead of typical responses can contribute to a fairer process and better outcomes for everyone involved. And in some cases, not prosecuting at all may be the best course of action.
2. Incorporate community members and the people most impacted as partners in reform
While the local nature of municipal courts poses unique challenges, it can also be an opportunity. These courts are well positioned to respond to community input in ways that larger court systems may struggle with.
One way local courts can do that is by involving community members and people impacted by the system in reform efforts. Residents have a vital role to play at every stage—from identifying local concerns and proposing new solutions to evaluating what’s working and what’s not.
There’s also an opportunity to mobilize people with firsthand experience of the justice system in supportive programs. Peers with lived experience can better support others who are struggling, enhancing trust and preventing future contact with the system.
3. Build the infrastructure to collect and learn from data
Access to data is indispensable for identifying needs and gaps, learning what works, and advocating for needed investments. Yet many local courts struggle to collect and interpret data as part of their normal operations.
Investing in greater data literacy, collection, and analysis skills can help ensure that municipal courts are effectively meeting community needs. This requires building a strong “data culture” marked by collaboration and transparency across different teams and disciplines. Our report offers concrete resources for courts aiming to strengthen their approach to data—including our recent introduction to court-based data and applied research.
4. Instill human-centered, trauma-informed approaches into every aspect of court practice
Even minor encounters with the justice system can be frightening and even traumatic. That’s compounded by the fact that many people involved in the justice system already face preexisting trauma.
There are many ways courts and practitioners can respond to that trauma with care and compassion. Openly and respectfully informing people about the legal process, designing court spaces to be more welcoming, and using person-centered language in court can all make for a less intimidating experience.
Courts and justice leaders can tap into a wide range of training opportunities around these issues for all practitioners. And these trainings can be delivered in collaborative ways that build greater empathy for people navigating the justice system.