An Analysis of the Elements “Constantly in Conflict” in Chicago’s Restorative Justice Community Courts

• In Event: Alternative Courts

Abstract

This paper examines the Circuit Court of Cook County’s three Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCCs) located in the Avondale (North Side), Englewood (South Side), and North Lawndale (West Side) neighborhoods of Chicago. The RJCCs generally serve 18-to-26-year-olds living in or near the three target neighborhoods who are charged with nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors to divert these young people away from the traditional criminal court process. Our report is an exploratory study using data from interviews with stakeholders, court-watching observations, and data from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Office of the Chief Judge to determine if and how the RJCCs’ practices align with and/or depart from general restorative justice best practices. While the quantitative data showed that participants in RJCCs experience better recidivism outcomes than individuals who are traditionally prosecuted, qualitative data illuminated various tensions between the tenets of restorative justice practice and the structures and processes of the RJCCs due to the inherent power imbalances that are present in all court settings. The report concludes by making recommendations for better aligning the RJCCs with restorative practices, such as implementing a community oversight model and expanding eligibility criteria to include more serious offenses.

Authors

• Naomi Johnson, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

• CJ Beck, University of Chicago

• Alexa Cinque, University of Chicago

• Austin Segal, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts