Community Court Background

In November of 1998, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office initiated a U.S. Justice Department pilot project called Community Court, a neighborhood-based mini-court staffed by volunteers and designed to handle misdemeanor offenses. In the last five years, the San Francisco model has become an outstanding example of how a Restorative Justice program can reduce crime in inner-urban areas.

Community Court was established as an active collaboration among San Francisco city departments, neighborhood residents and merchant associations. Starting with two courts, there are now eleven courts in the following communities;

San Francisco's Community Courts are organized and staffed by by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and CaCDS. The program has drawn increasing collaborative support from The Superior Court, San Francisco's Mayor's Office, Board of Supervisors, The Public Defenders Office, the San Francisco Police Department and San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Inc.

Why Community Court?
Community Court Neighborhood and Citywide Steering Committee
Frequently Asked Questions