Discuss the rationale behind specialized courts, the different kinds of specialized courts that exist, and what makes them different from traditional courts.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Specialized courts exist for nearly every difficult problem confronting the criminal justice system, and these courts are supposed to deal with these cases promptly. Some of the types of specialized courts that exist include drug courts, which started in Florida to address the growing problem of prison overcrowding. The aim of drug courts is to place nonviolent first offenders into intensive treatment programs rather than jail or prison. Other types of specialized courts include mental health courts, community courts, domestic violence courts, and gun courts. Specialized courts have six features that separate them from traditional courts: the main concern is reducing recidivism, judges closely monitor offenders, judges hand down sentences with more information about offenders' backgrounds than may typically be available, they collaborate with other public and private agencies, specialized court personnel assume different roles, and the courts are trying to change the way the criminal justice system works.