Sherene Crawford, Esq. February 1, 2018

1. Sherene Crawford, Esq. February 1, 2018

2. The Center for Court Innovation seeks to help create a more effective and humane justice system by designing and implementing operating programs, performing original research, and providing reformers around the world with the tools they need to launch new strategies. Three Core Areas of Business

3. Community Court Model • Community courts are neighborhood-focused courts that attempt to harness the power of the justice system to address local problems. • They strive to engage outside stakeholders such as residents, merchants, churches, and schools in new ways in an effort to bolster public trust in justice. • They test new approaches to reduce both crime and incarceration. Center for Court Innovation

4. What is procedural Justice? • Concerns the perceived fairness of court procedures and interpersonal treatment while a case is processed • Defendants and victims are more likely to accept court outcomes (win or lose) if they: • perceive the process was fair; • had a chance to be heard; and • believe they were treated with dignity and respect Center for Court Innovation

5. Outcomes of Interests for Alternatives to Incarceration • Increase compliance with court orders • Reduce the use of jail • Avoid criminal convictions & collateral consequences • Reduce risk of recidivism • Increased public safety • Other prosocial benefits defendants Center for Court Innovation

6. Community Courts:Six Guiding Principles • Enhanced Information • Community Engagement • Collaboration • Individualized Justice • Accountability • Outcomes Center for Court Innovation

7. New York Court System • Court Structure • Community Courts are part of the New York State Court System • Funding provided by the city and the state • Services offered by independent community based organizations • Judge can be multi-jurisdictional hearing both civil and criminal cases Center for Court Innovation

8. Midtown Community Court Center for Court Innovation

9. Midtown Community Court • Idea: Neighborhood-based courthouse that focuses on low-level criminal cases • Location – a shared space with a theater company, 25 years of shared space • Catchment – population residents, tourist and local businesses (4 police precincts – 10th, 14th ,20th, 18th ) • Caseload – 18,000 criminal and summons cases each year Center for Court Innovation

10. Partnerships • NYC Police Department & other local law enforcement agencies • District Attorney’s Office • Office of Court Administration • Defense Bar • Social service agencies & treatment programs • Arts based organizations • Community organizations • Business Improvement Districts • Residents • New York Housing Authority • New York City Public Schools Center for Court Innovation

11. Community Conditions Panel Community Conditions Panel meetings take place monthly at the courthouse with various stakeholders. Frequent attendees include: • New York Police Department • District Attorney’s Office – Prosecutors • Legal Aid Society – Defense lawyers • Residents • Political and Government representatives • Business Improvement Districts such as; Times Square Alliance, Garment District, Lincoln Square • Various nonprofit service providers The meetings take place to talk about the conditions in our community and how we all can work together to resolve issues. Center for Court Innovation

12. Criminal Court Assessment Tool (C-CAT) THE RISK PRINCIPLE • Vary the intensity of intervention (treatment & supervision) by risk level. • Higher-Risk: Provide more intensive intervention. • Lower-Risk: Intervention can be harmful: Why? • Interferes with work or school. • Increases contact with higher-risk peers. • Can stigmatize and produce psychologically damaging effects. • Supported by close to 400 studies. JAIL INCREASES RISK • The harms of intensive intervention to lower-risk individuals are magnified when jailing them. • Jail is the most intensive and disruptive intervention of all; AND • The intervention of choice in most jurisdictions. • Research generally shows that incarceration increases re-offending after release—but this relationship applies especially at lower risk levels. Center for Court Innovation

13. A Focus on Alternatives to Incarceration Mandates Midtown offers a variety of onsite interventions, including: • Individual Counseling Sessions • Social Service Groups • Drug Treatment Services • Treatment Readiness Program • Gateways to Prevention • Midtown Treatment Track • Youth and Young Adult Services • Prostitution Diversion Services – WISE (Women’s Independence, Safety, and Empowerment) • Veterans Services • Employment and Job Readiness- Pathways to Employment Center for Court Innovation

14. Community service at Midtown Community Court is designed to help and enrich the neighborhoods that have been affected by vandalism, graffiti, increased litter, and many other quality-of-life issues.

15. 85% 2016 Social Services Compliance Rate 81% • 2016 Community Service Compliance Rate Center for Court Innovation

16. Red Hook Community Justice Center Independent evaluators tracked 3,000 defendants from Red Hook and conventional court for 2 years: Incarceration: The Justice Center reduced the number of offenders who received jail sentences by 35%. Sentencing Practice: The Justice Center significantly increased the use of alternative sanctions (78% at Red Hook, 22% downtown) Fairness: Offenders at Red Hook were more likely to perceive the judge’s decisions as fair than offenders in the comparison group. Recidivism: Adult offenders at Red Hook were 10% less likely to be re-arrested than offenders who went through conventional court; juveniles were 20% less likely to be re-arrested. Source: A Community Court Grows in Brooklyn: Comprehensive Evaluation of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, National Center for State Courts, 2013. Center for Court Innovation

17. Sherene Crawford, Esq. Director Midtown Community Court Center for Court Innovation 646.264.1302 scrawfor@nycourts.gov https://www.courtinnovation.org