Specialty Court (Austin, TX)
At A Glance
Jurisdiction: Austin, Texas
Program Intercept Point: Specialty Court
Population Served: Misdemeanor defendants experiencing homelessness and presenting with co-occurring issues related to physical and mental health and substance misuse
Program Summary
The Downtown Austin Community Court is a restorative justice and problem-solving court that has been operational for 23 years. Its services focus on alternative resolutions, using case management and intensive wraparound services to help defendants with misdemeanors (and others in the community) experiencing homelessness.
Downtown Austin Community Court
Program Highlights
- Resolves Class C criminal offenses (excluding code, traffic, and environmental offenses) within downtown Austin, part of east Austin, and the west campus area of the University of Texas at Austin.
- Resolves cases citywide related to local Proposition B and a statewide camping ban, in an effort to connect people experiencing homelessness to case management and the Downtown Austin Community Court’s array of social service supports.
- Program and services include:
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- Clinical diversion program
- Intensive case management
- Walk-in case management
- Storage program for people experiencing homelessness
- Austin Homelessness Advisory Council
- Homeless Outreach Street Team
Website: Austin, Texas Community Court
Contact
Robert Kingham
Interim Court Administrator,
Downtown Austin Community Court,
(512) –974-1394
Robert.Kingham@austintexas.gov
Laura Williamson
Business Process Consultant
(512) 974-1233
Laura.Williamson2@austintexas.gov
Media Releases
- March 8, 2023: Federal Grant Kickstarts Effort to Make It Easier for People Experiencing Homelessness to Get Help
- February 7, 2023: City of Austin Relaunches Warrant Amnesty Program
- October 3, 2022: Downtown Austin Community Court Connecting over 400 People with Housing
- December 18, 2019: Downtown Austin Community Court Reduces Offenses and Addresses Homelessness through Housing