There are now hundreds of courts that are focused on resolving
problems. Problem-solving courts and community-oriented lawyering projects have
much in common. Both have to do
with using the court system as a tool for addressing larger
problems. In community-oriented lawyering, the
lawyer works with other professionals in the community, using the legal system
as one of the tools, to address an issue in the community from a broader
perspective. Instead of looking at one client's issue, the lawyer looks for
what is the community's issue that has led the client to involvement with the
legal system. The websites for community lawyering include www.communitylawyer.org
and www.communitylawyering.com.
Problem-solving
courts include drug treatment courts, non-adversarial courts with the focus being on
treatment. For example, in drug treatment courts, a team including counsel, judge, probation
officer, treatment workers, etc. work with the client toward recovery and
reducing recidivism. Full communication is the norm. All aspects of the
participant's life are addressed in the plan. There are now hundreds of
drug treatment courts in the United States and the number increases each month.
For an extensive listing of programs around the country, go to American
University in Washington, DC. For more information about
problem solving courts, go to www.problemsolvingcourts.com.
National
Association of Drug Court Professionals
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