Court Community and Collaboration: Outreach

"The public can
gain a better
understanding of
the importance
of community
participation
through jury
service, volunteer
programs, and
other avenues of
public involvement
- and of the
essential role
that a strong
and independent
court system plays
in our society."

— Chief Justice
Ronald George

Introduction

One way to ensure continued community involvement is for the courts to consider initiating, maintaining, or enhancing court community outreach programs. Courts in California have used traditional outreach programs like courthouse tours and "Meet Your Judges" programs, but there are many other types of outreach programs that can help inform and involve the public. The Special Task Force on Court Community Outreach has identified two broad categories of court community outreach programs, Public Education Programs and Community Justice Initiatives. The task force has prepared products in both categories for use at the local court level.

Task Force Charge/Purpose and Roster
Products of the Task Force

Report of the Special Task Force

The Special Task Force's report, approved by the Judicial Council on February 9, 1999, details statewide actions to be taken to encourage and develop court community outreach.

Dialogue, Courts Reaching Out to Their Communities, A Handbook for Creating and Enhancing Court and Community Collaboration

Dialogue is a resource directory for model court community outreach programs and a guide for developing such programs.