NCJ Number
167376
Date Published
Unknown
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This booklet suggests a strategy for coordinating the work of community policing with the operations of drug courts as part of a comprehensive strategy of community justice.
Abstract
The suggestions offered stem from a 2-day focus group of practitioners from nine jurisdictions that have created innovative linkages between law enforcement and their court systems. Six of the jurisdictions have drug court programs. One component of the proposed coordination strategy is education and training. This component might involve each agency providing the other with written materials that describe their programs and outline their procedures and goals. Also police should arrange for court teams to visit local police substations to discuss community policing and walk or ride their beats. Similarly, court staff should encourage police officers to visit the local drug court or community-based court and attend drug court graduation ceremonies. Other suggestions for education and training are also offered. A second component of a coordination strategy is communications/information flow. This involves the creation of a structure of written and oral communications between police agencies and the court regarding the status of case processing under the jurisdiction of each agency. The third component of a coordination strategy is support/monitor function. This may involve having an offender report directly to a community policing line officer as part of a drug court's plan of supervision and treatment. Further, substance abuse treatment providers may communicate with a community policing officer to request assistance in contacting an absent offender. The officer can also communicate directly with treatment providers about the offender's progress in the community. Appended glossary of terms, working definitions for community justice, an overview of the Community Policing/Community-Based Court Mentor Network, and descriptions of three jurisdictions selected as mentor sites