University City Benefits from New Community Court

Philadelphia, 4 March 2002 – Since 25th February, extra hands have been helping to clean University City’s sidewalks and vacant areas. But they’re not volunteers: the hands belong to people who have been sentenced to perform community service by the Philadelphia Community Court.

Philadelphia Municipal Court and Center City District teamed to create the Court as an alternative to incarceration or probation for quality of life crimes. Because of overcrowding in the city’s prisons, minor crimes usually result in probation which puts the offender back on the street without punishment.

The geographic boundaries for the Court include the University City District and the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 17th, and 23rd Police Districts in Center City. If a person is caught committing certain crimes within this area, s/he may be brought to Community Court and sentenced to community service in the area.

The types of offenses adjudicated are retail theft, summary offenses, criminal mischief/vandalism, graffiti, possession of an instrument of crime of graffiti, possession of an instrument of crime, theft from auto, disorderly conduct, theft of services, defiant trespass, possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, thefts, obstructing the highway/panhandling/ prostitution, and attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes. Hearings at Community Court are expedited usually within 36 hours of arrest. Sentences range from 6 to 30 hours, and drug or behavioral treatment may also be required.

Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham is an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative. "Philadelphia’s Community Court will take carefully selected quality of life offenses and summary cases and treat them with resources that will address offender addiction and other social problems. In addition to making offenders accountable for the consequences of their illegal conduct, they will also be required to do community service and by doing so make it less likely that they may re-offend."

Community Court’s presiding judge is the Honorable Wendy L. Pew, and its administrative judge is the Honorable Seamus P. McCaffery known for creating Eagles Court at Veterans’ Stadium during the football season.

The District Attorney’s Office determines which defendants are sent to Community Court. Those rejected are sent to Municipal Court.University City District expects to receive one to 5 people a day, according to John Fenton, UCD director of operations. They are assigned to assist the public space maintenance crews unless they cannot perform physical work. Tasks include taking down stickers and posters from light poles and sweeping up trash. During Community Court’s first week, the trash-strewn shoulder area of N. 31st Street was cleared of litter by one worker.

Community organizations that have a need for the extra labor that these workers can provide should call the UCD at 215 243 0555 x 236.

UCD executive director Eric T. Goldstein is excited about the Court’s opening. "Having the extra help will allow us to be even more responsive to public space maintenance problems. Of course, we hope that the Court acts as a deterrent so that these crimes will begin to decrease in University City and Philadelphia."

Other American cities with community courts are New York (an important model for Philadelphia’s), Atlanta, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and Hartford, CT.

The Philadelphia Community Court is located on the second floor of 1401 Arch Street. The telephone number is 215 683 1570.

Release Date: Monday, March 4th 2002