Background
The Judicial Council of California’s Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee, created pursuant to rule 10.56 of the California Rules of Court, makes recommendations to the Judicial Council on criteria for evaluating and improving adult and youth collaborative programs that incorporate judicial supervision, collaboration among justice system partners, or rehabilitative services. Collaborative programs include collaborative justice courts, also known as problem-solving courts, diversion programs, and similar court-monitored programs that seek to improve outcomes and address problems facing court–involved individuals and those at risk of becoming involved with the adult or juvenile justice system. These issues can include, but are not limited to, mental health issues, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. The committee is jointly staffed by the Criminal Justice Services office and Center for Families, Children & the Courts.
Mission
The mission of the Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee is to:
- Make recommendations to the council on best practices and guidelines for collaborative programs;
- Assess and measure the success of collaborative programs, including assessing and recommending methods for collecting data to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs;
- Identify and disseminate to trial courts locally generated and nationally recognized best practices for collaborative programs, and training and program implementation activities that support collaborative programs;
- Recommend to the Center for Judicial Education and Research Advisory Committee minimum judicial education standards on collaborative programs, and educational activities to support those standards;
- Advise the council of potential funding sources, including those that may advance collaborative programs;
- Make allocation recommendations regarding Judicial Council-administered grant funding programs that support collaborative programs; and
- Identify and disseminate appropriate outreach activities needed to support collaborative programs, including but not limited to collaborations with educational institutions, professional associations, and community-based organizations.