Problem Solving Courts

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Social Psychology and Problem-Solving Courts: Judicial Roles and Decision Making

   • Richard L. Wiener, Leah Georges

   Pages 1-20

3. Dependency Specialty Courts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21

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   2. The Marriage of Science and the Law in Child Welfare Cases

      • Cindy S. Lederman

      Pages 23-32

   3. Exploring the Value-Added of Specialized Problem-Solving Courts for Dependency Cases

      • Sophia I. Gatowski, Shirley A. Dobbin, Alicia Summers

      Pages 33-53

   4. Dependency Courts and Science

      • Victoria Weisz

      Pages 55-62

4. Domestic Violence Specialty Courts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 63-63

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   2. Unified Family Courts: An Interdisciplinary Framework and a Problem-Solving Approach

      • Barbara A. Babb

      Pages 65-82

   3. Domestic Violence Courts: The Case of Lady Justice Meets the Serpents of the Caduceus

      • Nancy Wolff

      Pages 83-112

   4. Gender Issues in Problem-Solving Courts

      • Anna Williams Shavers

      Pages 113-130

5. Mental Health Courts, Global and Philosophic View of Problem Solving Courts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 131-131

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   2. Mental Health Courts May Work, But Does It Matter If They Do?

      • John Petrila

      Pages 133-146

   3. The Past, Present, and Future of Mental Health Courts

      • Allison D. Redlich

      Pages 147-161

   4. Mental Health Courts: Competence, Responsibility, and Proportionality

      • Robert F. Schopp

      Pages 163-183

   5. The Evolution of Problem-Solving Courts in Australia and New Zealand: A Trans-Tasman Comparative Perspective

      • Elizabeth Richardson, Katey Thom, Brian McKenna

      Pages 185-210

   6. Problem Solving Courts: Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Practice

      • Bruce J. Winick

      Pages 211-236

6. Epilogue

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 237-237

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   2. The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Problem-Solving Courts

      • Eve M. Brank, Joshua A. Haby

      Pages 239-251

7. Back Matter

   Pages 253-256

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In order to make the criminal court system more effective there has been a growing trend to have courts participate in what is essentially a rehabilitation strategy. Such courts are often referred to as “problem-solving” because they are working on root causes of criminal behavior as part of the dispensation of justice. This major shift in the role of the courts means that the court works closely with prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, social workers, and other justice system partners to develop a strategy that pressures offenders to complete a treatment program which will ultimately, hopefully prevent recidivism. Research has shown that this kind of strategy has a two-fold benefit. It has been successful in helping offenders turn their lives around which leads to improved public safety and the ultimate saving of public funds. This book is the first to focus exclusively on problem solving courts, and as such it presents an overview of the rationale and scientific evidence for such courts as well as individual sections on the key areas in which these courts are active. Thus there is specific attention paid to domestic violence, juvenile criminality, mental health, and more. Throughout, research findings are incorporated into general discussions of these courts operate and ideally what they are trying to accomplish. There is also discussion of how such courts should evolve in the future and the directions that further research should take.

• A Trans-Tasman comparative perspective
• Domestic violence
• Juvenile justice
• Mental health court
• Recidivism
• Therapeutic Jurisprudence
• Truancy
• dependency cases
• dependency courts
• domestic violence courts
• family court
• gender issues
• judicial roles
• law in child welfare
• legal perspectives
• problem-solving courts

"The good news for readers of Problem Solving Courts is that the various chapters are well written without the abrupt changes in style sometimes experienced in edited volumes. Whether for an upper level undergraduate or a graduate student with an interest in psychology and the law or for professionals in the field, a clear picture of the rationales for problem solving courts and of generic implications for practice—psychological, social, legal—is provided."
Richard W. Bloom
PsycCRITIQUES
December 18, 2013, Vol. 58, No. 49, Article 4

• , Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, USA

  Richard L. Wiener, Eve M. Brank

Policies and ethics