New Community Courts to Target Minor Crimes

In the annals of crime, offenses such as graffiti or public urination may not amount to much.

But they are not too trivial for the neighborhoods victimized by vandals and reeking drunks, whose crimes can depress the quality of life.

To reform petty criminals--as well as force them to make amends to neighborhoods they offended--community court is coming to Los Angeles and, along with it, a police crackdown on minor crimes.

Brought together by Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer, a group of judges, city prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement and community leaders plans to open the courts in pilot projects planned for Van Nuys and downtown's skid row. The new Van Nuys court is expected to start in the first half of next year, with skid row to follow.

"It will represent an important step forward in how . . . everyone approaches misdemeanor offenses," said Rick Schmidt, head of the Los Angeles city attorney's Van Nuys office.

Across the nation, about a dozen community courts have sprung up in the last several years in places such as New York City; Denver; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and West Palm Beach, Fla. Elsewhere, at least 13 community courts are being planned, according to the New York-based Center for Court Innovation.

Such courts generally deal only with such offenses as vandalism, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, public urination, battery, shoplifting, trespassing and prostitution.

"Too often we consider these victimless crimes," said John Feinblatt, director for the Center for Court Innovation. "But they aren't victimless crimes. Blocks and neighborhoods are victims of these crimes."

A community court seeks to make offenders pay restitution through service, and it emphasizes rehabilitation. Offenders are referred to the appropriate social services such as job training, counseling, drug treatment, homeless shelters and health care.

Though begun as purely local initiatives, the new Van Nuys and skid row courts will be primarily financed by the federal government. Congress recently passed a federal budget that includes $1 million, secured by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles), for funding Los Angeles community courts.

Some organizers have high hopes for these courts, but others say it is too early to tell what kind of impact they will have.