7.11 Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions and the Courts
Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) solutions represent important scientific findings that benefit the U.S. criminal justice system. Yet CPSc solutions are mostly overlooked in the academic scholarship of justice studies, as well as in the judicial court programming and practices. This section will highlight some of the CPSc solutions for the courts.
7.11.1 The WITS for CPSc Solutions in Courts
Little is known about the willingness to support (WITS) for CPSc solutions in the American courts or judiciary (CrimeSolutions.gov, 2022). For instance, court leaders across America do not necessarily track their own level of WITS for crime solutions. This level of silence regarding the court’s WITS for crime solutions has created a policy condition where local judges and key judiciary leaders are free to ignore these crime solutions. However, one important piece of good news is that the WITS for CPSc solutions can be measured and mobilized. In other words, the current silence of court judges and key leaders can be easily broken. One way to end this leadership silence is to conduct a rather simple research survey to measure the WITS of courts and community leaders. For instance, the faculty and students in any criminal justice course can collaborate to interview their local court judges. If they do so, they will perhaps discover the level of WITS for crime solutions in their courts for the first time. If the judges express high levels of WITS, the faculty and students can partner with their courts to pilot some of the crime solutions already available for the courts.
This service learning and community engagement research activity might seem simple. But it might also have the potential to significantly increase the willingness to support (WITS) for crime solutions in any court. It should be noted that this example is only one of many opportunities to measure and mobilize the WITS in every court. Below is a table that highlights some of the CPSc solutions that courts can choose to implement.
7.11.1.1 Table 7.3. Crime Solutions for Courts.
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Title and Evidence Rating |
Summary Description of CPSc Solutions |
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This is a strengths-based, university-led program that diverts arrested youth from formal processing in the juvenile justice system and provides them with community-based services. This program is rated Effective. |
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Using comprehensive assessments, the program identified, provided, and coordinated individualized services for high-risk, drug-involved, justice-involved juveniles. This program is rated Effective. |
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This is a drug court program that focuses on providing treatment services for offenders facing first-offense drug charges. The program is rated Effective. |
7.11.2 Licenses and Attributions for Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions and the Courts
“Crime Prevention Science (CPSc) Solutions and the Courts” by Sam Arungwa is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“Table 7.3. Crime Solutions for Courts (Table)” is adapted from “Program Profiles” by the National Institute of Justice Crime Solutions, which is in the Public Domain. Modifications in this adaptation by Sam Arungwa, licensed under CC BY 4.0, include selecting and putting the descriptions in a table.