Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — In efforts to assist individuals experiencing homelessness in resolving legal matters, county and city leaders have unveiled the official launch of the Community Outreach Court.
The outreach court was first launched as a pilot program in September 2023, offering services such as record clearance, ticket relief, warrant recall, social support and housing assistance. Officials describe the program as the “first-of-its-kind” in the city of L.A., which aims to address criminal misdemeanor matters affecting unhoused Angelenos in a community setting.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and county Supervisor Hilda Solis worked together on this program, alongside Samantha Jessner, presiding judge of the L.A. Superior Court; Ricardo Garcia, county public defender; and Erika Anzoategui, the county alternate public defender.
“Today, we celebrate the launch of the Community Outreach Court,” Solis said in a statement. “This comes out of years of prior work listening to our houseless neighbors, understanding the challenges they face and wanting to lift every barrier and obstacle out of the way so they can get an equitable chance to do better and more.”
Officials say they’ve helped about 190 people through the program, and successfully provided 90 of those individuals with needed legal assistance.
“By establishing a court that is located in the community, we are helping unhoused Angelenos comply with the law, navigate the legal system and access much-needed services,” Feldstein Soto said in a statement.
The L.A. city attorney noted that when unhoused individuals are summoned to court, they are often reluctant to appear for several reasons, such as not having a place to store their belongings or afraid of losing them or they may struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues.
And oftentimes, unhoused individuals have a mistrust of officials in government or law enforcement, she added.
“This is our effort to bring our courts directly into the community to help solve these challenges,” Feldstein Soto said.
The Community Outreach Court is held every third Thursday of the month at the Skid Row Community ReFresh Spot, a 24/7 public safe space that is open to all and provides showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, drinking water, links to social services, and pet supplies.
The next court sesssion is scheduled April 18, at 9 a.m. at the The Skid Row Community ReFresh Spot located at 544 Towne Ave., between Fifth and Sixth streets in downtown L.A.
“As public defenders, we understand that housing instability further complicates existing legal challenges for our most vulnerable neighbors. Community Outreach Court builds on our commitment to addressing systemic barriers and ensuring equitable access to justice,” Garcia said in a statement.
Jessner noted that the Community Outreach Court is similar to existing programs like the Redondo Beach Homeless Court, the Shelter, Treatment and Empowerment Program Court in Santa Monica, and the Homeless Court in Long Beach.
“Our court is committed to thinking expansively and strategically about removing barriers that may otherwise inhibit the success and stability of those attempting to resolve cases in the justice system and change their lives,” Jessner said in a statement.