BJA FY 22 Community Courts Initiative

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. The Community Courts Initiative supports efforts by state, local, and federally recognized American Indian tribal governments to establish and enhance community courts in their jurisdictions. Community courts are neighborhood-focused court programs that combine the power of the community and the justice system to address local problems. They connect persons committing less serious crimes often misdemeanor cases to judicially supervised substance use disorder treatment, alternative sanctions, and other community-based services.