Resolution

In Support of Problem-Solving Court Principles and Methods

Resolution 22 In Support of Problem-Solving Court Principles and Methods

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WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) appointed a Joint Problem-Solving Courts Committee to continue the work of the previous Task Force on Therapeutic Justice; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Problem-Solving Courts Committee found that:

  • There is evidence of broad support for the principles and methods commonly used in problem-solving courts, including ongoing judicial leadership, integration of treatment services with judicial case processing, close monitoring of and immediate response to behavior, multidisciplinary involvement, and collaboration with community-based and government organizations.
  • These principles and methods have demonstrated great success in addressing complex social problems, such as recidivism, which are not effectively addressed by traditional legal processes.
  • The application of these principles advances public trust and confidence in the courts.

WHEREAS, CCJ and COSCA adopted CCJ Resolution 22 and COSCA Resolution 4 on August 3, 2000, and agreed to:

  1. Call these new courts and calendars "Problem-Solving Courts" to recognize their collaborative nature.
  2. Expand and better integrate problem-solving court principles and methods into ongoing court operations.
  3. Advance the careful study, evaluation, and application of these methods to address other issues facing state courts.
  4. Encourage broad integration of problem-solving principles into the administration of justice.
  5. Support national and local education and training on problem-solving court principles and methods.
  6. Advocate for necessary resources to advance and apply problem-solving court methods.
  7. Establish a national agenda including actions to:
  • Direct treatment funds to state courts (via the CCJ/COSCA Government Affairs Committee and the Department of Health and Human Services).
  • Develop problem-solving principles for other court types similar to the Drug Court Components.
  • Examine problem-solving court principles via the National Center for State Courts Best Practices Institute.
  • Convene conferences to educate members and leaders about problem-solving courts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that CCJ and COSCA reaffirm their commitment to these action items and further agree to:

a. Encourage each state to develop and implement a plan to expand problem-solving court principles.
b. Support national and local judicial and staff education on problem-solving court principles.
c. Encourage judicial officers and staff to attend problem-solving court training.
d. Develop demonstration jurisdictions as laboratories for problem-solving methods.
e. Identify and share national best practices.
f. Request that the NCSC's Problem-Solving Court Community of Practice seek funding to document and share best practices.
g. Request updates to training curricula from the National Judicial College, NCSC, and NASJE.
h. Encourage law schools to include problem-solving court principles in curricula.
i. Request that the Association of American Law Schools support expanded problem-solving court education.
j. Request that the ABA's Legal Education and Admission to the Bar Section support these initiatives.
k. Advocate for financial resources to support problem-solving courts.

Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Problem-Solving Courts Committee at the 56th Annual Meeting on July 29, 2004.