The Same but Different: Examining Underexamined Types of Problem-Solving Courts

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Problem-solving courts (aka specialty courts) have gained prominence since the 1990s. Designed to reflect restorative justice practices, these courts offer an alternative to traditional court processes by linking persons involved in the criminal justice system to services and/or treatment expected to reduce participation in criminal behaviors. Although the organization and procedures differ depending on the population they serve, problem-solving courts (PSCs) share some basic principles. The courts generally rely on voluntary enrollment, adhere to a non-adversarial team approach, and exercise extended judicial supervision. Research on PSCs often focuses on drug courts, the oldest and most common type of specialty court. However, this panel will center attention on types of PSCs that are often neglected in empirical studies. By presenting findings on participant’s perceptions and experiences in veteran courts, prisoner re-entry courts, and juvenile courts, we illuminate shared and varied aspects of these courts. Findings reveal ways in which PSCs perpetuate and interrupt long-standing inequalities in the criminal justice system. As such, we raise questions about these courts’ ability to serve marginalized populations.

Sub Unit

• Area VII: Criminal Justice Policy and Practice / 39: Courts and Juries

Individual Presentations

• Marked Men: A Photography Study of Veterans Court Participants - Babz M. Jewell, Ohio University

• The Effects of Procedural Justice and Coercion on Specialty Court Outcomes - Brittany J. Hood, Indiana University; Mary Lee Luskin, Indiana University

• A Pilot Study of the H.E.A.T. Intervention among Re-Entry Court Participants - Bradley Ray, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Douglas Marlowe, National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Science, Law and Policy; Spencer Lawson, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis; Darryl Turpin, The PinWheel Group

• Crossing Over or Crossing Out America's Youth? Specialized Courts, Specialized Justice, and the Realities of Dual-Involvement in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Delinquency Systems - Amy M. Magnus, University of California, Irvine

Chair

• Cindy Brooks Dollar, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro