Diversity and Specialty Courts

DIVERSITY AND SPECIALTY COURTS

Resources

· Textbook: Collective, C. J., Prior, S., & Jones, L. (2018). Investigating difference: human and cultural relations in criminal justice (3rd ed.). Pearson.

Background Information

Starting in the 1980’s, various jurisdictions around the country have experimented with incorporating specialty courts into local criminal justice systems.  These courts began with those accused of drug and gang-related offenses.  As data began to be developed showing the effectiveness of these courts in reducing recidivism, they have expanded.  The latest additions to these specialty courts include veterans’ courts and mental health courts.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Read Chapter 5 from our textbook and respond to the following:

a. Discuss the opportunities provided by specialty courts. Do these courts discriminate by only allowing certain people to participate?

3. Please defend your answer and be substantive in your response. It is expected that this initial posting be a minimum of two paragraphs (or 200 words) in length.