“If you are a probation officer, judge, prosecutor, professor, public defender, public policy guru, or just a good government citizen that wants a more effective criminal justice system, this symposium issue is for you. Our goal is to provide you with digestible articles that will introduce you to some new ideas. Specialty courts are more than just drug or veterans’ courts—they are non-confrontational and address the root cause of our problems, and provide solutions to housing, domestic violence, trauma, policing, and family court in rural parts of our country. Despite the incredible work that problem solving courts are doing, they are not perfect; so, we have included thoughtful articles pointing out areas for improvement (think more open, more accountable). Justice isn’t cheap, so there’s also information on an innovative way of funding these solutions. At the end of the day—whether you care about saving tax-payers dollars or helping a person deal with their demons or both—specialty courts get better outcomes.”
Stephen R. Bough
UMKC Law Review 