Center City Philadelphia

The Center City District is the primary sponsor of the Philadelphia Community Court, an innovative, problem-solving court that combines criminal justice and social service agencies under one roof for a comprehensive response to quality-of-life crimes in Center City and surrounding neighborhoods. The Court helps reduce repeat offenses by addressing defendants' underlying social service needs.

On-Site Social Services

Community Court addresses the underlying causes of criminal behavior with professional evaluations, performed by on-site social service staff and provided to the judge prior to sentencing. Court personnel conduct on-site classes in drug treatment readiness and anger management. When appropriate, social service staff places offenders in drug and alcohol treatment, health care, education, job training and other programs, either mandated by the Court or entered voluntarily by the offender.

The Court's nursing center also offers defendants physical health screenings, emergency health care, testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS and health education classes.

Community Service Sentences

The Court emphasizes community service sentences as restitution to the neighborhood where the crime was committed, rather than jail time for low-level offenses.

Offenders have worked with sidewalk cleaning, landscape maintenance and graffiti removal crews of the Center City District and University City District, in the offices of nonprofit organizations that provide services to the homeless and have assisted with neighborhood clean-ups.

Many of the community service sentences provide offenders with a sense of personal achievement and fundamental job skills.

Community Court Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over quality-of-life offenses including theft from auto, retail theft, minor drug possession, vandalism and prostitution.

The Court serves 10 Philadelphia Police districts, covering Center City, University City and sections of North and South Philadelphia.

Most defendants receive expedited hearings at Community Court, usually no later than the next business day after arrest.

How You Can Help

If your organization is interested in providing social services to the Community Court population, or if you would like to serve as a supervised community service placement site, please contact the program manager at 215.683.1570.

If you would like to support the work of the Community Court, please consider a contribution to the Center City District Foundation, 660 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

How to Contact the Court

The Philadelphia Community Court is located at 1401 Arch St., 2nd floor, and its hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. You can contact the Court at 215.683.1570.

The Philadelphia Community Court is a partnership of the City of Philadelphia, First Judicial District, District Attorney, Defender Association, Police Department, University City District, the Department of Behavioral Health and the Center City District.