Boston's Homeless Court Helps Defendants Get a Fresh Start

Boston's Homeless Court Helps Defendants Get a Fresh Start

The Boston Globe (8/13, 228K) reports that Boston's Homeless Court, which was created in 2010, "aims to serve the unique needs of Boston's homeless defendants, who often find themselves cycling through the court system for minor, nonviolent offenses, or in contempt for failing to respond to court summonses they often don't receive because they're living on the streets." Those "who volunteer for Homeless Court are required to make a yearlong commitment. During that time, they get mental health and substance abuse counseling and a bed at the Pine Street Inn, or, for those with more severe mental health or addiction issues, at Shattuck Hospital." Some are offered GED prep classes, but all must agree to improve current skills or learn new ones.