In the current criminal justice system, crimes are a violation against the state, and the focus is on the sanction that represents society's punishment. Often offenders are not held accountable to victims or the community, both of which are harmed. Community justice is not a new program, but a new approach to administering criminal justice. This approach involves identifying public safety problems, creating partnerships within the community to address those problems, and building bridges among all parts of the criminal justice system. Community justice moves the focus away from arrest, prosecution, and adjudication and more toward solving problems to prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and address a community's public safety needs.
Community justice incorporates four essential elements.
Community policing is the foundation, where police are at the core of neighborhood problem-solving, not just law enforcers. Problems are identified, priorities set, and resources allocated based on an ongoing dialogue and partnership with the community. Like community policing, the goal is to solve public safety problems as defined by the community. This involves community organizing for crime prevention and even civil action, including litigation that may involve such tactics as housing code abatement to drive drug dealers out of neighborhoods. Community prosecution also requires addressing the needs of crime victims and involving them in the prosecution process.