Success Stories in Community Courts: Listening to Participants’ Voices

Abstract

One alternative model to incarceration that has gained attention during the last decades is that of community courts. As variants of problem-solving courts, these courts seek to provide a comprehensive, rehabilitative response to recurring offending. The underlying assumption of these courts is that recidivist offenders usually suffer from root problems that cause them to re-offend, such as mental health needs, addiction, trauma, poverty, social neglect, and family crises. Therefore, punishment alone will not cut the vicious cycle of recidivism; a comprehensive and holistic intervention is needed to address these root problems.

Drawing on in-depth interviews with 12 male program graduates and participants approaching completion at the time of the interview, this Essay explores community court participants' narratives and success stories. Participants’ narratives revealed four central components that contributed to their success in the program: inner motivation, supportive family members, the tremendous support participants received from the community court professional team, and community involvement. Interviewees also described four main areas in which they felt they had made significant changes: their self-image, their daily functioning in multiple areas of life (including relationships, health maintenance, employment, skills acquirement, and more), their attitude toward state authorities, and their general worldview. These perceived changes reveal the program's potential to profoundly transform participants’ attitudes and behaviors.

Keywords: community courts, success, criminal justice reform, alternatives to incarceration, community justice, problem-solving court