Midtown Community Court evolves into Midtown Community Justice Center

December 8, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Celebrating a new chapter during the 30th anniversary of the Midtown Community Court. This historic event, commemorating the court's renaming to Midtown Community Justice Center, highlights its transformation into a multifaceted institution for community-based justice and innovative legal solutions in New York City.
Photos: Manish Gosalia/Center for Justice Innovation.

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The Center for Justice Innovation marked the 30th anniversary of the Midtown Community Court on Tuesday by renaming it to the Midtown Community Justice Center, reflecting its holistic and community-based approach to justice, the Center said.

This renaming signifies the center’s evolution from a traditional court to a multifaceted institution providing a range of services, including court-adjacent alternatives, street outreach for the unhoused, and community engagement initiatives.

Established in 1993, the Midtown Community Court, now the Midtown Community Justice Center, has been a pioneer in problem-solving justice, aiming to reduce crime and incarceration while increasing public trust. Over three decades, it has handled nearly 500,000 criminal court arraignments and summons appearances, demonstrating a successful track record in reducing incarceration rates.

The center’s landmark Community First program has notably engaged with nearly 650 unhoused individuals over 2,000 times in just two years.

The renaming ceremony, held at New World Stages, included a panel discussion featuring prominent figures like Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York State Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. The panelists discussed the evolution of public safety and justice in New York City, highlighting the center’s innovative approaches to justice delivery.

“Since its establishment in 1993, the Midtown Community Court has never been just a court,” said Chief Judge Wilson. “It is a neighborhood fixture. It is a creative collaboration between the judiciary, defense agencies, the district attorney’s office and social service providers. It is a lifeline for the New Yorkers it serves and for the communities from which they come.

“The innumerable services it provides enhance access to justice, and its new name, Midtown Community Justice Center, reflects both the role it has played in its community for the past 30 years and the role it will continue to play statewide in demonstrating what a more effective, more compassionate system of justice can look like,” Wilson continued.

Courtney Bryan, executive director of the Center for Justice Innovation, emphasized the groundbreaking role of the Midtown Community Court in redefining the justice system. The center’s new name encapsulates its commitment to investing in people, prevention, and restorative solutions. This reflects a belief in the power of healthy communities and lasting justice achieved through comprehensive and compassionate approaches.

“In 1993, many people dismissed the idea that a court could — or even should — work to solve the problems of people charged with crimes or improve the communities in which they live,” Bryan said. “But the Midtown Community Court showed it was possible, inspiring justice systems across the nation and beyond to offer alternatives to incarceration that restore communities, expand opportunity, and make people less likely to reoffend.

“For 30 years, the court has remained at the cutting edge, serving as an engine of new ideas and pushing the envelope of reform,” Bryan continued. “The newly-renamed Midtown Community Justice Center is another major step in its evolution, reflecting its growth from primarily being a court to being a special place where staff also build safety and justice outside the courthouse and in the community. Ultimately, the name change reflects the core belief that healthy communities and lasting justice can only be achieved by investing in people, prevention and restorative solutions.”