Center staff will assist court managers at the Newark Municipal Court to assess the strengths and challenges of enhancing court users' perceptions of fairness. This will include a site assessment of court observations and a report that documents observed practices and outlines recommendations for improvement.
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Three Center staff members conducted the site assessment on November 16, 2016: Emily LaGratta (director of procedural justice initiatives), Amanda Berman (project director of the Red Hook Community Justice Center and former public defender), and Danielle Malangone (director of national anti-trafficking strategies). The visit was hosted by James Simpson, court director; Jennifer Stone-Barton, senior administrative analyst; and Kelly Mulligan-Brown, project director of Newark Community Solutions.
Center staff wrote a report that documented the observations from the site assessment on November 16, 2016. The report includes topics such as security procedures, managing wait time in the courtroom, facility maintenance, and the use of judicial scripts when opening court. The report culminates with a set of recommendations for improved practices, such as conducting regular facility reviews, creating a bench guide and model script for judges, and addressing the unique needs of victims and litigants with children who appear in court. The report is not intended for external audiences, but rather to guide local practitioners towards a discussion about possible improvements.
Center staff provided a draft report on January 5, 2017, then reviewed the draft with local court managers on January 17, 2017. A slightly revised, finalized report was provided later that day on January 17. Center staff will reengage with the court after it has been shared with key stakeholders and there is some consensus as to priorities for implementation.
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