NCJ Number
207971
Date Published
March 2003
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This packet contains guidelines for drug courts in California for effectively dealing with the media.
Abstract
Research has indicated that the majority of the American public receives its information about courts from the news media. As such, it is important that drug courts put forth an effort to enlist the media as a partner in educating the public about the value of drug courts. This packet offers a series of tips for effectively dealing with the media, as well as descriptions of California’s collaborative justice courts, and samples of a press release a speech from a San Francisco Adult Drug Court graduation. Tips for working effectively with the media include the suggestion to develop a media policy, create a media contact list, designate a media spokesperson, and write opinion articles and commentaries for the local newspaper. Tips are also offered for talking with reporters and for developing rapport with reporters. Statewide statistics on California’s collaborative justice courts and description of innovative strategies developed between California’s collaborative justice courts and the communities they serve are offered to educate members of the media on the importance and effectiveness of California’s drug courts.