Type:	Report
Title:	Policy framework to consolidate and extend problem-solving courts and approaches
Authors:	Courts and Programs development Unit, Department of Justice Victoria
Keywords:	Policy;Theories of violence;Restorative justice;Specialist courts;Criminal justice responses
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Victorian Department of Justice
Notes:	General Overview: This report consolidates good practices from programs in Victoria and elsewhere on problem-solving courts and approaches for the Victorian Government’s policy framework on problem-solving courts. The courts include the Family Violence Court Division in Victoria but also cover the Drug Court, Koori Court and others. Objective: The report aims to present a literature review of theoretical approaches, the characteristics of problem-solving courts, and good practices from Australian and international programs and initiatives. Discussion: The report provides a definition of a problem-solving court. It identifies characteristics of problem-solving courts (case outcomes, systems change, judicial monitoring, collaboration, and non-traditional roles). Differences between traditional and problem-solving courts are described. Criticisms of such courts are discussed. A summary of the Attorney-General’s Justice Statement and good practice guidelines is provided. Key components and good practices are identified which relate to: The report develops a policy framework that outlines the policies and priority actions to improve service delivery, in order to meet current and future demand for problem-solving courts. The Attorney-General’s Justice Statement identifies the following principles to guide the development of a policy framework: an interdisciplinary approach; policy consistency; a least recourse principle; and procedural responsiveness. Conclusions: The report suggests that problem-solving courts use different procedures from those used in traditional courts and they employ an enhanced form of adjudication, which focuses on solving problems as well as deciding cases. It argues that problem-solving courts need a different mindset, along with a team approach consisting of collaboration among legal and non-legal practitioners, as well as challenging the traditional concepts of the adversarial system.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19233
Physical description:	40 p.
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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