In Support of Flexibility for Federal Funding for Problem-Solving Courts
Resolution 12 In Support of Flexibility for Federal Funding for Problem-Solving Courts
WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators, in fulfilling their leadership roles for state judicial systems, have repeatedly taken positions in support of the principles and methods used in problem-solving courts; and
WHEREAS, the Conferences have identified the principles and methods commonly used in problem-solving courts to include ongoing judicial leadership, integration of treatment services with judicial case processing, close case monitoring, immediate response to behavior, multidisciplinary involvement, and collaboration with community-based and government organizations; and
WHEREAS, the Conferences have advocated for the careful study and evaluation of the principles and methods employed in problem-solving courts and the identification and promulgation of best practices that incorporate the problem-solving court principles and methods; and
WHEREAS, problem-solving courts, particularly drug courts, have been evaluated and best practices have been established as a result of those evaluations and through research; and
WHEREAS, the Conferences have also taken positions in support of federal funding for planning and implementation of drug courts, mental health courts, and other problem-solving courts; and
WHEREAS, in the Administration's budget proposals for FY 2010, FY 2011, and FY 2012, the Administration proposed the creation of a flexible problem-solving justice grant program in lieu of continued specific funding for drug courts and mental health courts; and
WHEREAS, the Administration's FY 2012 description of the problem-solving justice grant program stated:
"To provide policy development, training, and technical assistance, and grant funding for jurisdictions to develop a continuum of responses to crime problems and offenders (particularly drug involved offenders), informed by science, that appropriately address offender risks and needs, and build on the success of the Drug Court program and other problem-solving approaches."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators support flexibility in the funding of problem-solving courts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences encourage the Department of Justice to consider state court leadership's state planning and priorities as they consider grant applications so that federal funds are leveraged to achieve the greatest impact in a state; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conferences encourage the Department of Justice to base funding decisions on fidelity to the principles and methods of problem-solving courts, proposed use of evidence-based practices, and effective design principles.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Problem Solving Courts Committee at the 2011 Annual Meeting on August 3, 2011.