Community Court

Community Court Dedication Ceremony

Left to Right: Dallas City Councilmember Leo V. Chaney, Jr., Administrative Judge Jay Robinson, Community Court Judge Victor Ortiz, MALIN, State Representative Terri Hodge, Former Dallas City Attorney	Former Dallas City Attorney Madeleine B. Johnson makes opening remarks at the Community Court Dedication Ceremony

Dallas Dedicates Community Court in South Dallas/Fair Park Area

Dallas’ first Community Court, where the focus of the court is to rehabilitate the defendant and restore the community, was dedicated on October 7, 2004 by Dallas City Councilmember Leo V. Chaney, Jr.. The keynote speaker for the opening was State Senator Royce West.

Serving the South Dallas/Fair Park community, the Community Court is located in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Persons arrested for ‘quality of life’, Class C misdemeanor crimes within the court’s geographical service area are arraigned and brought swiftly before the judge. Defendants who plead guilty or no contest may be ordered to perform community service restitution in South Dallas Fair Park neighborhood, the judge can also require the defendant to attend rehabilitative and educational programs.

“The Community Court is unique because offenders are held accountable to the members of the community,” Former City Attorney Madeleine Johnson said. “The Community Court gets the community involved in the criminal justice system, restores the community where the crime is committed, and also seeks to rehabilitate individuals to prevent them from committing criminal acts again.”

Typical offenses heard by the judge include assaults, manifestation of prostitution, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal dumping, and code violation.

The Community Advocacy division of the City Attorney’s Office manages the court. The court was opened on an accelerated, one-year schedule instead of the two years or more usually needed to open a community court.

Community Courts Contact Information 2922 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BLVD.
	Dianne Gibson COMMUNITY COURT MANAGER Office: 214-671-0211 Fax: 214-670-8501 e-mail: Dianne.Gibson@dallascityhall.com
	Elmo Harris COMMUNITY SERVICE RESTITUTION COORDINATOR Office: 214-671-0210 Fax: 214-243-2458 e-mail: elmo.harris@dallascityhall.com
	Velma Chapman COMMUNITY COURT CLERK Office: 214-670-7129 Fax: 214-243-2458 e-mail: velma.chapman@dallascityhall.com
	Bridget Cockrum SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATOR Office: 214-671-0214 Fax: 214-243-2458 e-mail: Bridget.Cockrum@dallascityhall.com
	Quinton Pierre WORKCREW SUPERVISOR Office: 214-671-0210 Fax: 214-243-2458 e-mail: quinton.pierre@dallascityhall.com
	Judge Cheryl Williams COMMUNITY COURT JUDGE
	Judge Phyllis Lister Brown COMMUNITY COURT JUDGE

	Christopher Eatmon   COURT BALIFF e-mail: christopher.eatmon@dallascityhall.com
	Lloyd Coleman   COURT BALIFF e-mail: lloyd.coleman@dallascityhall.com