When the Midtown Community Court (CC) began operation in NYC in 1993, it posed a challenge to traditional assumptions about the role of American courts in dispensing justice &, in particular, about how they should relate to the "community." The Midtown experiment was a catalyst for innovation and encouraged the diffusion of the CC model to other jurisdictions with different settings and challenges. The Hartford, CT CC opened in 1998 &, as one of the first post-Midtown CC, represents a test of the transferability of the CC model to more "typical" Amer. settings. This report describes Hartford's adaptations of the model and outlines an evaluation plan for assessing its progress and impact.

This book examines the phenomenon of Community Justice Centres and their potential to transform the justice landscape by tackling the underlying causes of crime. Marred by recidivism, addiction, family violence, overflowing courtrooms, crippling prison spending and extreme rates of incarceration, the criminal justice system is in crisis. Community Justice Centres seek to combat this by tackling the underlying causes of crime in a particular neighbourhood and working with local people to redesign the experience of justice and enhance the notion of community. A Community Justice Centre houses a court which works with an interdisciplinary team to address the causes of criminality such as drug addiction, cognitive impairment, mental illness, poverty, abuse and intergenerational trauma. The community thus becomes a key agent of change, partnering with the Centre to tackle local issues and improve safety and community cohesion. This book, based on research into this innovative justice model, examines case studies from around the world, the challenges presented by the model and the potential for bringing its learnings into the mainstream. This book will appeal to academics in law and criminology as well as psychology; it will also be of considerable interest to people working in the criminal justice system, including the police, government policy advisers, psychologists and social workers.

The eighth edition offers an updated and streamlined examination of the American system of law, courts, and justice. Part I (Law) reviews the history of courts and justice, common law and civil law systems, as well as law schools and legal education. Part II (Courts) discusses lawyers and the practice of law; unravels the structure and administration of federal and state court systems; delineates the appellate process, the Supreme Court, and judicial review; and describes the roles of judges, prosecutors, and criminal defense attorneys. Part III (Justice) demystifies the criminal justice process, negotiated justice, civil justice, juvenile justice, and alternative forms of justice. Throughout the book, landmark cases, important historical events, illustrative examples, and boxed items highlight or expand chapter content. Each of the twelve chapters concludes with an extensive summary, a list of key terms, and review questions. There is also a glossary that provides a summary of important terms.