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Community Court Programs
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Municipal Court of Atlanta -Community Court
Office of Court Programs
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| Treatment Alternatives – For defendants with mental health problems, substance abuse issues or HIV/AIDS, licensed professionals assess needs and develop community-based treatment plans. The Court coordinates case management, conducts frequent review hearings and doesn’t hesitate to impose tough sanctions for noncompliance. This program connects offenders with reputable community resources and provides a strong push toward successful treatment. Through the years, partnerships have been developed with more than 50 local providers to offer help and hope to defendants with these serious problems.
Community Service – From clean-up projects to providing clerical help, defendants are required to serve their communities by volunteering to make up for offenses. In the process, the defendant is reconnected with local residents in a positive way and the community is strengthened and improved as a result.
Restorative Boards – Restorative Boards put volunteer neighborhood leaders front and center in the sentencing and restorative process. After extensive training, board members are sworn into service by the Presiding Judge of Community Court. Together the board and defendant discuss the nature of the offense and its negative consequences to the victim, community and offender. An agreement is reached on a course of action that the defendant will take to “right the wrong” his/her actions have created. Activities are also identified for the offender to pursue in order to reduce the likelihood that he/she will offend again. The interest and good will of the neighborhood leaders can prevent a one-time offense from becoming a persistent problem.
Reunification – For homeless defendants who wish to be reunited with family or other social support outside of Atlanta, the reunification program helps make those connections and secure transportation.
Veterans Outreach - Defendants identified as veterans are interviewed to assess eligibility for veteran benefits, based on the defendant’s military service and medical records. When applicable, an appointment for a physical exam at the Veteran’s Administration is scheduled. If needed, a residential treatment plan and bed is secured or an outpatient treatment plan is developed. The VA can assist defendants with physical and mental health needs, addiction issues, housing and job search and placement.
Teens Learning Control (TLC) - The Teens Learning Control program targets young defendants of the court, 21 years old and under, who appear in Court for traffic violations, especially speeding and driving under the influence. TLC provides a hands-on learning environment for the development of responsible driving habits. Educational videos, exams, interactive peer groups and discussions, workshops and seminars, as well as the performance of community service projects, are used to promote healthy attitudes and behaviors that result in safety conscious drivers. The TLC program is contributing significantly to saving the lives of Atlanta’s teens and young adults.
Women for Women - On February 13, 2006, the Women for Women (W4W) Program at the Atlanta City Detention Center re-opened its doors to serve the needs of female offenders ready to make positive life changes. The intensive 180-day program is designed to assist female offenders with a history of alcohol and drug dependence by providing them with skills necessary to examine past destructive behaviors that contributed to their addiction and to replace them with constructive alternatives. After completing the W4W program, graduates enter an aftercare treatment program to help ensure continued success. |
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"CREATIVE COURTS AND CARING COMMUNITIES" 
