Collaborative Justice
"Collaborative justice courts, focusing on less serious drug offenses, mental health, domestic violence, and juvenile matters, have been remarkably successful at turning around lives…They change the offender for the better..."
-Ronald M. George, Chief Justice California State Supreme Court
What is Collaborative Justice?
Funding Collaborative Justice
Of Current Interest
Uniting Peer/Youth Courts Statewide (6/2008)
CFCC's Collaborative Justice team is hosting the third annual Youth Summit June 27 - 29, 2008 at the University of California, Davis. This event will bring together more than 200 youth, youth/peer court staff, juvenile bench officers, education experts, and youth-focused associations to share ideas and best practices about youth courts. In addition, the youth summit will provide a venue for the opportunity to gather additional input from youths for the Judicial Council of California's Peer Court DUI Prevention Strategies Program, a project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
Youth court, a collaborative justice court model, offers an alternative to the traditional justice system. Also called peer, student or teen court, this court model presents real consequences for first-time offenders and involves teen volunteers and former defendants in the court process. The youth charged with an offense opts to forgo the formal procedures of the juvenile court and agrees to a sentencing forum with a jury of the youth's peers-other teens who have been trained to assume various roles, including those of attorneys, court staff, and jurors who determine the fate of the offenders.
According to the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, there are over 1,100 youth courts nationwide with over 40 currently operating in California.
Peer Court DUI Prevention Curriculum and Web Site
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has partnered with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to develop and implement the Peer Court DUI Prevention Strategies Program. The goal of the program is to lower the number of DUI offenses in California by altering attitudes and behavior toward reckless activities through educating teens and parents on the dangers of drinking and DUI. An education curriculum specialist authored the DUI Prevention Curriculum with the input of eight mentor peer courts and the program’s planning committee, which consisted of technical and educational experts in the area of teen DUI prevention.
After the curriculum was developed, ten peer courts were awarded grants to implement the program. Additionally, a web developer came on board to design an interactive web site to supplement the curriculum. This web site is currently available to the peer courts, youth and parents participating in the DUI Prevention Curriculum. The public launch date for both the curriculum and web site is September 2008.
Real DUI Court In Schools (PDF)
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has partnered with the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to develop the Real DUI Court in Schools project which seeks to expand DUI prevention programs such as DUI court trial and sentencing programs and the "Courage to Live" program in middle and high schools throughout California. To this aim, the AOC in collaboration with the California Channel, will deliver a DUI sentencing program, "Choices & Consequences" to schools via live cable television and webcast on May 1, 2008 (Law Day). The 90 minute broadcast will originate from Sierra Middle School in Stockton, CA. The Honorable Richard Vlavianos, Judge of the Superior Court, San Joaquin County, will preside over the sentencing hearing, as well as facilitate the educational program, that follows. Schools interested in participating are asked to register online for the program. Details and handouts can be found at on the registration site at: www.register123.com 
Addressing Homelessness: Innovations Through Community-Court Partnerships, Santa Monica, CA (March 29, 2007)
The conference is sponsored by the City of Santa Monica, the RAND Corporation, the California Endowment, and the Public Counsel. It will feature presentations on community courts in California and New York that are coordinated by the Center for Court Innovation, as well as presentations on homeless courts and homelessness by nationally recognized experts. There will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in break out groups for regional planning/discussion sessions among court-community partners.
California Celebrates National Drug Court Month
May was national drug court month—a time to celebrate the positive impact of drug courts. California now has more than 170 drug courts in nearly all 58 counties and there are 1,700 such courts nationally.
Mentor Peer Courts Target DUI Intervention and Prevention (3/30/2006)
On March 29, 2006 the Collaborative Justice team hosted a project kick-off symposium at the AOC office in San Francisco. Participants included the eight mentor peer courts, education consultant Karen Vierra, and the planning committee—consisting of bench officers, probation department representatives, and other stakeholders; such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Friday Night Live (FNL), California Highway Patrol (CHP), AAA, National Youth Court Center (NYCC), National Drug Court Institute (NDCI), and Phoenix Houses of California. Attendees discussed the development of a DUI Intervention and Prevention curriculum that would be implemented into the peer court model and replicated statewide.
California Drug Courts: A Methodology for Determining Costs and Avoided Costs (05/23/2006)
With grants from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Programs, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) contracted with NPC Research, Inc. to conduct a statewide cost benefit study of adult drug courts. The study is being conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of an in-depth cost analysis of three case study courts and developed the methodology for conducting the statewide study. Phase II applied and tested the methodology in six additional courts and resulted in the development of a drug court cost self evaluation tool that will be tested and launched statewide in the third and final phase of the project, currently underway. Findings from the studies include the following:
Drug court participants had lower rates of recidivism than the comparison group (29% vs. 41%). Graduates of the drug court program had even lower rate (17%).
The nine drug courts showed savings of $3,200 to $20,000 per participant.
The study showed a net benefit to the state of over $9 million for a group of 900 participants.
Summary of the Study (PDF, 130 KB)
Link to full report: Phase I Building the Methodology (Jan, 2003, PDF) | Phase II Testing the Methodology (Dec, 2002, PDF)
New Report Documents the History of Collaborative Justice in California (09/06/2005) (PDF, 961 KB)
Judiciaries around the country are embracing a new way of business, one that emphasizes partnerships with stakeholders in and outside the courts, improved community access to the justice system, greater accountability for offenders and better community outcomes, such as increased safety and improved public confidence. This new way of doing business goes by various names. In many jurisdictions, it's called "problem solving." In California it goes by the name "collaborative justice."
Collaborative Justice in Conventional Courts - Stakeholder Perspectives (09/06/2005) (PDF, 516 KB)
This report completes the second phase of research conducted as part of a unique collaboration between the California Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Center for Court Innovation (CCI). In the course of the project, 27 justice and treatment system professionals graciously participated in focus groups or interviews. We would like to thank all of the participants for their time as well as for their valuable insights, which made this report possible.
Reno Praises California Drug Courts (12/2004)
The Former U.S. Attorney General praised Superior Court of Marin County judges, commissioners and drug court professionals for their good work on drug courts during a recent visit to California.
Transferring Collaborative Justice Principles (12/2004)
A recent study examines the potential to apply specialized "problem-solving court" principles and practices more broadly throughout state court systems. Based on focus groups and interviews with 35 judges in California and New York, the study assesses which problem-solving court practices are transferable to general court calendars, the major barriers to transferability and how problem-solving methods may be more widely disseminated among judges and judicial leaders.
Full Report (PDF, 449 KB) Court News Article (PDF, 28 KB)
What is Collaborative Justice?
Collaborative justice courts-also known as problem-solving courts-promote accountability by combining judicial supervision with rehabilitation services that are rigorously monitored and focused on recovery. These courts are distinguished by the following elements: a problem-solving focus, a team approach to decision making, integration of social and treatment services, judicial supervision of the treatment process, community outreach, direct interaction between defendants and judge, and a proactive role for the judge inside and outside the courtroom.
Components of Collaborative Justice Courts
Collaborative justice key principles, as defined by the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee, based on the National Association of Drug Court Professionals' (NADCP) 10 components described in "Defining Drug Courts: The Key Components," are as follows:
- Collaborative justice courts integrate services with justice system processing.
- Collaborative justice courts emphasize achieving the desired goals without using the traditional adversarial process.
- Eligible participants are identified early and promptly placed in the collaborative justice court program.
- Collaborative justice courts provide access to a continuum of services, including treatment and rehabilitation services.
- Compliance is monitored frequently.
- A coordinated strategy governs the court's responses to participants' compliance, using a system of sanctions and incentives to foster compliance.
- Ongoing judicial interaction with each collaborative justice court participant is essential.
- Monitoring and evaluation measure the achievement of program goals and gauge effectiveness.
- Effective collaborative justice court operations require continuing interdisciplinary education.
- Forging partnerships among collaborative justice courts, public agencies, and community-based organizations increases the availability of services, enhances the program's effectiveness, and generates local support.
- Effective collaborative justice courts emphasize a team and individual commitment to cultural competency. Awareness of and responsiveness to diversity and cultural issues help ensure an attitude of respect within the collaborative justice court setting.
Funding of Collaborative Justice Courts In California
California collaborative justice courts receive funding from federal, state, and local sources. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Collaborative Justice Program is a key player in the administration of many of these statewide grant initiatives.
State Drug Court Funding
Drug Court Partnership
In September 1998 the California Legislature enacted the Drug Court Partnership Act to fund postplea drug court programs with the goal of producing the greatest possible public safety benefit and reductions in state and local costs. This legislation established a unique partnership between the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) and the Judicial Council in which the two agencies co-administer the program and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of drug courts. The legislation has provided approximately $8 million per year since its enactment.
Comprehensive Drug Court Implementation (CDCI) Act
In 2000 the Judicial Council and ADP began administering the Comprehensive Drug Court Implementation Act of 1999. This act provides funding for "drug court systems" such as those for (1) juvenile offenders, (2) parents of children who are detained by or are dependents of the juvenile court, (3) parents of children in family law cases involving custody and visitation issues, (4) criminal offenders under Penal Code sections 1000.1-1000.5, and (5) other drug court systems approved by the Drug Court Partnership Executive Steering Committee. The State Budget for fiscal year 2000-2001 provided $10 million for this program. Funding in subsequent years has been maintained at approximately $8 million to $10 million per year.
Other State and Federal Grants
Local assistance grants
Substance Abuse Focus Grant Program Forms
In 2007-2008, the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee allocated approximately $1.1 million to 48 collaborative justice courts across the state that focus on substance abuse matters.
The Office of Traffic Safety
California Peer Court DUI Prevention Strategies Program
As part of its California Traffic and Safety Program, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) approved a $1.5 million collaborative justice project that will focus on developing and implementing a statewide DUI prevention and intervention curriculum aimed at educating juveniles about the dangers of drinking and driving under the influence. The AOC will award and distribute grant funds to local superior courts for the project year one development phase and year two implementation and evaluation phase for the California Peer Court DUI Intervention and Prevention Strategies Program.
Grant Accounting Forms
Invoice (AOC-12) Rev. 3/06, (XLS, 22 KB)
Expenditures Line Items (AOC-13) Rev. 3/06, (XLS, 24 KB)
Payroll Summary (AOC-14) Rev. 3/06, (XLS, 28 KB)
Time Sheet (AOC-15) Rev. 3/06, (XLS, 26 KB)
Quarterly Progress Report
07-08 Peer Court DUI Year Two Quarterly Progress Report (DOC, 213 KB)
05-07 Peer Court DUI Year One Quarterly Progress Report (AOC-20) Rev. 4/06, (DOC, 56 KB)
California DUI Court Expansion Project
As part of its California Traffic and Safety Program, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) approved a $3.6 million AOC managed collaborative justice project to fund 5 new DUI courts in California. Funded courts are Butte, El Dorado, Orange, Shasta, and Sonoma Superior Courts.
Juvenile and family collaborative justice court programs
Since 1996 federal funding has been available annually for drug courts and other collaborative justice courts through the Byrne Fund and the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) programs. The AOC administers these pass-through grants, which provide funds for 15 to 30 collaborative justice courts each year. This program funds juvenile delinquency, dependency, family drug courts, youth/peer courts, juvenile violence and juvenile mental health courts, and restorative justice projects. JABG funding is also used to develop a statewide system of juvenile collaborative justice court programs and to support restorative justice practices in the juvenile justice system.
For more information about AOC grants for collaborative justice programs, contact Yolanda Leung at yolanda.leung@jud.ca.gov.
Last modified: 07/07/2008
