RED HOOK COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTER BUREAU

Red Hook Community Justice Center

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is a community court that was created to address the unique social and judicial needs of its surrounding neighborhood — the 72nd, 76th, and 78th Precincts.

The Justice Center is a collaborative effort of the Brooklyn DA’s Office, the Center for Justice Innovation, the Office of Court Administration and the defense bar.

A team of assistant district attorneys, handling about 3,200 misdemeanors each year, is specifically assigned to the Justice Center. They have an in-depth knowledge of the community, frequently attending community meetings and participating in neighborhood events.

As a problem-solving court, the Justice Center seeks to resolve cases in ways that make amends to the community, address the needs of the victim, and endeavor to effectively change the defendant’s behavior.

Sentences often include intensive drug or alcohol treatment, mediation, anger management classes, GED classes, youth groups, vehicular programs, and more. The courthouse is also the hub for an array of innovative programs that contribute to reducing fear and improving community trust in the justice system. These include a youth court where teenagers are trained to resolve actual cases involving their peers.

Additionally, the Justice Center has an AmeriCorps program, named the New York Juvenile Justice Corps, and a housing resource center, which provides support and information to residents with cases in housing court.

The Justice Center was the model for the Brooklyn Young Adult Court, which now provides similar services in the rest of the borough outside of Red Hook.

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