Community Justice Center
From San Francisco Homeless Resource
What is the Community Justice Center (CJC)?
The Community Justice Center (CJC) is a program of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco in partnership with city agencies[1] and community groups. The CJC is one type of problem-solving court but with two unique differences: the CJC is accountable to community concerns through an open feedback process and the program focuses on a specific neighborhood.
Working with team agencies in a collaborative approach to justice, the CJC aims to reduce recidivism by addressing the underlying issues driving repeat criminal behavior. The CJC serves as a point of intervention and an opportunity to address the specific behaviors that have led to the present legal action. The CJC re-engages clients with established service providers and prevents the redundancy of care. Ninety percent of our clients are the high needs and high users of the city system across multiple agencies. Recognizing that fact, our city partners and criminal justice partners have restructured resources to the CJC as the center represents an efficient and cost effective decision to streamline services and coordinate care across multiple city systems.
The CJC also recognizes that communities, as well as individuals, can be victims of crimes. The program provides opportunities for offenders to give back to the communities they have harmed. The CJC fosters more effective use of limited public resources through community work programs in lieu of traditional sanctions such as jail time.
The CJC represents a systemic change in the way that city services and court processes are administered. The CJC is not simply a new program providing the same services; it’s an investment in positive outcomes for the community and the clients as demonstrated by collaborative courts in San Francisco for the last 15 years.
Community Organizations That Partner with the CJC
§ Glide Foundation: provides health care, mental health and substance abuse treatment groups.
§ St. Anthony Foundation: connects un-insured clients with medical and dental services, as well as computer technical programs and an on-site life skills group.
§ La Casa De Las Madres: Healthy relationships workshop on-site.
§ Community Court Panelist (DA’s office program)
§ Tenderloin Workforce Center (Human Service Agency): assists with job placement.
§ San Francisco City College: Second Chance Program: offers on-site counseling for participants who are interested in pursuing higher education at City College.
§ Department of Public Works: provides assistance to the CJC Community Service Program.
§ San Francisco Clean City Program: provides assistance to the CJC Community Service Program.
§ San Francisco Planning Urban Research: conducts on-site workshops on educational topics that impact participants.
§ North of Market/ Tenderloin Community Benefit District(s)
§ Northern California Service League: provides employment services for ex-offenders.
§ Bank on San Francisco: connects participants with banking services and free tax preparation.
§ Chamber of Commerce: helps the CJC partner with local businesses.
§ Community Residents: provide peer counseling on-site.
§ Community Housing Partnership: collaboration that ensures the CJC as a Safe Haven site.
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