NCJ Number
238389
Date Published
2012
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This report evaluates the effectiveness of statewide coordination of problem-solving courts; the challenges encountered along the way; and the lessons learned.
Abstract
Results indicate that all of the statewide coordinators acknowledged that they had an important role to play in helping to find resources for problem-solving courts; that the statewide coordinators use research and evaluation as tools to achieve many of the other goals identified in this fact sheet; that research and evaluation are central to fundraising, improving court performance, and training; that statewide coordinators recommended a number of ways to promote strong research and evaluation practices; that statewide coordination has played an important role in improving information management technology to support court operations, program management, and research; and that statewide coordinators work both internally and externally to advance the concept of problem-solving justice. Recently, States around the country began to centralize their administration of problem-solving courts, such as drug courts, mental health courts, domestic violence courts, community courts, and others. In 2008, in an effort to help statewide problem-solving court coordinators assess their work and find new ways to advance their goals, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Center for Court Innovation held a roundtable discussion that brought together court administrators, policymakers, researchers, and representatives of national organizations. This fact sheet draws upon that 2008 roundtable discussion, as well as on interviews with coordinators in five States, to identify the most common goals of statewide coordination. The States surveyed are California, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, and New York. Further resources are provided.