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Community Court
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 NCSC’s robust evaluation compared two groups of individuals who were cited to the Community Court program. One group included people who participated in Community Court, the comparison group did not participate in the program. These two groups were compared on new arrests, new convictions, and new incarcerations within one year of completing their respective programs. Key findings of this study included:
- Community Court participants were less likely to be arrested within one year of the program compared to those who did not participate (38% to 66%).
- Only one in 5 (20%) Community Court participants were incarcerated within one year of completing the program compared to more than 2 in 5 (45%) in the comparison group.
- Community Court participants had far fewer arrests within one year of completing the program than the comparison group (an average of 0.4 arrests for Community Court versus 5.5 for comparison group).
- Based on the estimated reduced subsequent convictions, Community Court produces a return on investment to the justice system of approximately $190,000.
Community Court participants have lower health care costs compared to other groups and use fewer of the highest cost services, such as in patient stays and emergency room visits.
Read more in the full report.
When and where is Community Court?
- Current Participants - Wednesdays at 9:00am
- First Appearances - Wednesdays at 1:00pm
- Eugene Municipal Court 338 W. 11th Ave., First floor
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.
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?
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)
- Eugene Parks and Open Space
- Eugene Police Department
- Eugene Public Library
- F.U.S.E. (Laurel Hill)
- Hourglass
- Lane Transit District (LTD)
- Laurel Hill
- ShelterCare
- Veteran Justice Outreach
- White Bird Clinic
- Willamette Family Inc.
- Work Force Network
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.
Mailing Services
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to Community Court. We are recruiting volunteers!
Join our successful effort to restore marginalized people to the community through the City of Eugene Community Court program.
Through our collaborative program, we are pairing a primarily homeless population with social services achieving profound results.
Volunteers gain marketable skills, enjoy being part of an inspiring team, and experience the fulfillment that comes with meaningfully helping those in need.
Examples of volunteer opportunities include:
- Greeter: Serve as a greeter to participants, Help Center walk-ins and community members as they enter Community Court.
- Participant Guide: Guide participants from the Greeter to the Participant Desk in the courtroom. Guide Help Center walk-ins to the Help Center Specialist.
- Courtroom Coordinator: Check in participants as they enter the courtroom and direct them to assessments, case manager, community restoration, attorneys and/or the judge as necessary.
- Operations Specialist: (9 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Set up and tear down signage, tables and chairs at the beginning and end of Community Court sessions.
- Community Restoration Volunteer: Perform community service alongside participants in Community Court for a two hour block.
- Community Restoration Lead: Lead a team of Community Court participants and volunteers to perform community service for a two hour block.
- Help Center Specialist: Help court participants and Help Center walk-ins connect with social services.
- Help Center Lead: Coordinates the efforts of the Help Center Specialists.
- Resource Specialist: Distribute lunches, hygiene kits, and hot coffee to participants and qualifying Help Center walk-ins.
Volunteers are not expected to volunteer every week. Instead, we ask that you identify those weeks when you will volunteer in advance - so that we can count on you those days.
Volunteers are needed most during the summer months and during the holiday season.
If you have any questions regarding the program or related documents please contact us via the Community Court email address.
Documents
Internships
Eugene Community Court is currently seeking interns.
We are now accepting applications for the following positions:
- Internship Host: Eugene Municipal Court
- Program: Community Court
- Industry: non-profit, government, criminal justice
- Location: Eugene Municipal Court - 1st floor, 338 W 11th Ave, Eugene, Oregon
- Compensation: Unpaid
- Hours per week: 8-16 depending upon credit/research arrangements
- Work schedule: Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Start Date: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Description:
Join our successful effort to restore marginalized people to the community through the City of Eugene Community Court program.
We offer the fulfilling opportunity to pair a primarily homeless population with social services achieving profound results.
Community Court is a collaboration of human service providers, public agencies and the City of Eugene Municipal Court.
Gain meaningful experience with leadership/supervision, project management, serving the public, and interagency communication.
Now accepting applications!
Required qualifications:
- Ability to interact with people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds
- Ability to keep detailed records
- Effective communication skills
- Must be available Fridays
Preferred qualifications:
Students seeking college credit for their studies.
Application Procedure:
Please submit a Volunteer Application, Background Check Disclosure, and CV/resume.
Forms may be submitted by email to CommunityCourt@ci.eugene.or.us, by fax 541-682-5417, or by postal mail or in person at Attn: Community Court, Eugene Municipal Court, 1102 Lincoln Street, Eugene, OR 97401.
For more information email CommunityCourt@ci.eugene.or.us or contact the court at 541-682-5400.
Documents
We are looking for service providers and educational programs appropriate for Community Court participants.
To ensure services are quickly and easily accessible to participants, the Community Court provides an onsite location for service providers. Volunteers will be available to help participants transition from the courtroom and ensure they meet each provider, as required on their individualized case plan. Community members do not need a citation to access the help center.
If your agency is interested in providing services and participating in our service provider room, please send a letter of interest, on your organizations letterhead, with the attached form. You may email, fax, mail, or hand deliver the information as described in the form.
Service Provider Information Form
If you have any questions regarding the program or attached form please feel free to contact us via the Community Court email address referenced in the form
Contact Us
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Municipal Court
1102 Lincoln St.
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: 541-682-5400
Fax: 541-682-5417
Hours
Monday - Friday
Office: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Phone: 8:00 AM- 11:30 AM and
12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Please Note
Our phones are not answered from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Online Records Search
Community Court
Located at Eugene Municipal Court
1102 Lincoln St.
Eugene, OR 97401
Phone: 541-682-5400
Email Community Court
HoursWednesdays
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Please NoteService provider availability and hours may vary.