The Eugene Community Court aims to improve public safety and reduce misdemeanor activity in the downtown core to improve safety and quality of life for all. The process promotes responsibility in participants through a combination of supervised community service and direct connections to social service providers.

The foundation of the Community Court is a team of justice system and social service professionals dedicated to collaborating on cases to reach practical solutions. Representatives of several local social service agencies work with the Community Court team onsite to problem-solve with community members in need of assistance and connect them with services that will address their needs and help them move out of the criminal justice system and toward an improved quality of life.

The City of Eugene is one of 10 cities nationwide who received a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant through the Center for Court Innovation to implement a Community Court. The Center for Court Innovation is providing technical assistance for the planning and implementation of this project. You can find more information about this grant at the Center for Court Innovation’s website (http://www.courtinnovation.org/2016-community-court-grantees). 
  

When and Where is Community Court?

Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Downtown Eugene Public Library
100 W. 10th Ave.
First floor conference room
 

Who May Participate in Community Court?

Individuals are eligible if their offense was committed within the designated geographic area, the offense is identified as an eligible offense, and they do not have any violence in their past criminal history. In addition, other community members may be referred or seek services without a citation or arrest. Every participant will be asked to complete a needs assessment to help create an individualized service plan.

The geographic area is equivalent to the downtown police patrol boundaries.

• North/South: 5th Ave. to 15th Ave.
• East/West: Lincoln St. to High St.

   

A variety of non-violent offenses are eligible for Community Court. A sample of eligible offenses includes:

• Disorderly conduct
• Interfering with public transportation
• Open container/consumption
• Prohibited noise
• Theft
• Criminal trespass

Who are the Community Court Partners?

The City of Eugene Community Court has partnered with the following providers in a joint effort to provide needed services to community members. 

• Catholic Community Services
• Downtown Eugene, Inc. (DEI)
• Emergence Addictions and Behavioral Therapies
• Eugene Parks and Open Space
• Eugene Police Department
• Eugene Public Library
• Goodwill
• Lane County Behavioral Health
• Lane County Health and Human Services
• Lane Transit District (LTD)
• Looking Glass Community Services
• ShelterCare
• VA Behavioral Health
• White Bird Clinic
• Willamette Family Inc.

The City of Eugene Community Court is a collaborative response to local concerns regarding public safety. Public safety representatives, community members, and service providers work together to address the underlying challenges that may lead to criminal behavior, and give the justice system meaningful options to handle lower-level offenses. Community courts are founded on evidenced-based practices, problem-solving, accountability, community engagement, and alternatives to incarceration.

For more information

Email Community Court
or call (541) 682-6054