Courts
Prosecutors, judges, and court personnel are faced with increasing challenges to find approaches that will help them not only clear cases and decrease dockets but also focus more on tailoring services to lower recidivism. In addition, they face these challenges with limited resources. Throughout the country, experts find that crimes involving gun violence, mentally ill and disabled populations, and drug users require special efforts. These efforts help ensure accountability on the part of the offenders while also ensuring that offenders return to the community with the services and supervision they need to help them stop their negative behavior. Although the methods chosen to meet these needs are unique to local court personnel, OJP is committed to providing the resources, tools, and support needed to help them test their ideas.
Several OJP bureaus provide programming and research support to address court-related issues. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers programming designed to assist prosecutors in several ways, including enhancing their ability to address gun crimes. BJA also provides assistance to adult drug courts and mental health courts across the country. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention contributes to the reduction of youth crime and violence through its support of juvenile and family drug courts.
Funding Opportunities
- Capital Case Litigation Initiative
- Drug Courts
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program/Mental Health Courts Program
- Project Safe Neighborhoods
- Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative
- Tribal Courts
Resources
- CASAnet
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
- Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project
- DNA: A Prosecutors Notebook Training Course
- Judges' Leadership Initiative
Publications
- Digital Evidence in the Courtroom: A Guide for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
- Impact of a Mature Drug Court Over 10 Years of Operation: Recidivism and Costs
- Investigation and Prosecution of Homicide Cases in the U.S.: The Process for Federal Involvement
- Protecting Judicial Officials: Implementing an Effective Threat Management Process
- Race and the Decision to Seek the Death Penalty in Federal Cases
