The Center for Court Innovation, long standing authority on Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Problem-Solving Courts, has created a resource toolkit for individuals creating community based problem-solving initiatives.
The Center for Court Innovation’s website descibes the underlying principles of problem-solving justice to include:
- Enhanced Information
- Community Engagement
- Collaboration
- Individual Justice
- Accountability
- Outcomes
The site includes Fact Sheets and Self-Assessment Tools including titles like:
- Problem Solving Justice in the United States Principles
- Using Data to Build Your Program
- Engaging Stakeholders in Your Project
- Publicizing Your Program and Its Successes
- Finding the Resources to Help Your Program Thrive>/li>
- Planning Checklists
- Mapping Community Resources
- Using Diversion as Part of a Problem-Solving Program
- Developing a Community Service Protocol
- Evaluating Your Program
The toolkit includes Practioner Monographs that include an in-depth look at ten projects across the U.S., nine strategies for fostering collaboration among problem-solving courts, and an examination of six common principles that animate problem-solving justice, and a cirriculum for launching an independent problem-solving justice program. The toolkit also includes a set of documents to assist practitioners in adapting principles to fit individual circumstances, saving time and resources utilizing models that have worked before.
Founded in partnership with the New York State Unified Court System and the Fund for the City of New York, the Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit think tank that helps courts and criminal justice agencies aid victims, reduce crime and improve public trust in justice. The Center combines action and reflection to spark problem-solving innovation both locally and nationally.
The Center for Court Innovation’s website can be located by pointing your browser to http://www.courtinnovation.org. The tools ennumerated in this document can be found at http://www.courtinnovation.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID…. While you’re looking at the wealth of information available there, be sure to visit their Expert Assistance Link, where numerous other resources are also available.