Take the area of domestic violence, for example, for so many years one of the most overlooked causes of injury in society. Clearly this is a problem that must be addressed at the community level, with efforts at prevention and early detection, supports for victims, programs for batterers and special attention to children. But the courts ultimately have a piece of the problem too, usually after someone has been hurt. Several years ago we established a Family Violence Task Force that has been conducting programs for judges all across the State to heighten sensitivities and deepen understanding as we learn more about this complex problem. We have set up pilot special Domestic Violence parts to improve continuity and service coordination.
Recidivism is another source of frustration for the public.
This is clearly an area where new approaches are worth trying. Our first attempt to address this problem was the Midtown Community Court in Manhattan, which combines punishment and services to address the low-level yet intolerable criminal activity in the midtown area. The court offers drug treatment and health services, and is developing a job training program for those defendants who successfully complete their community service sentences. Drawing on our experience with the Midtown Court, we are now planning a second Community Court in Red Hook. We are also establishing Drug Treatment Courts that will place selected nonviolent offenders in treatment programs, in an effort to break, not merely interrupt, the cycle of criminal recidivism for substance abusers.