Purpose

To provide homeless persons access to the court system. Typically, these special proceedings involve less serious offenses.

The Price

Eligibility for the Community Homeless Court Program is established by a positive performance over a period of time with a referring social service agency.

The Benefit

This is an actual Kern County Superior Court session held at one of the homeless shelters in Bakersfield, California.

Community Homeless Court can remove legal barriers created by unresolved arrest warrants.

Legal barriers deny access to jobs, housing, medical care, rehabilitation, driver’s licenses, and more.

Sentences often require further positive participation with social services agencies.

If you are living in a shelter or working with an agency in an effort to reclaim your life then the Community Homeless Court Program can help you make positive changes in your life!

Here’s How It Works

Social service agencies identify homeless persons who are progressing in their rehabilitative efforts and who would achieve further success by resolving arrest warrants

Social service agencies forward a referral form (list of potential participants and their progress) to Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA).  GBLA checks for eligibility of each potential participant. The referral forms are then forwarded to the Office of the Kern County Public Defender. This information is provided to the prosecution and to the court.

The court and prosecution prepare the cases for the next Community Homeless Court session. The prosecution and the defense discuss case resolutions.

The assigned defense attorney meets with these persons prior to the court date to prepare for the hearing.

Court staff arrives at the Community Homeless Court to hear these cases.

12 Steps to a New Life

1. Sign-up with a social service agency to make efforts to reclaim your life (i.e.; Bakersfield Rescue Mission, Bakersfield Homeless Center, Salvation Army, Community Action Partnership of Kern County, and many others).

2. Develop a plan with the agency and make progress in areas like counseling, recovery and job skills.

3. Seek a referral to the Community Homeless Court Program from your social service agency.

4. Meet with the defense lawyer for your court hearing to discuss your referral recommendation and your case.

5. Your defense attorney will meet with the prosecutor to seek a favorable resolution of your court case.

6. Attend the Community Homeless Court hearing and bring your letters of recommendation and certificates of accomplishment.

7. Appear before the judge, confront your past and look to your future.

8. Accept responsibility for your case. The judge will offer you a sentence designed to assist your efforts to reclaim your life.

9. Your case will be resolved and old barriers give way to new opportunities.

10. Act on your new opportunities for employment, housing, medical care, counseling and more.

11. Be proud of your efforts!

12. Encourage others to follow in your steps and spread the message!

Development

The Community Homeless Court Program in Bakersfield has been modeled after and designed with the assistance of the Community Homeless Court Program of San Diego, California.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA) spearheaded the drive in 2002 to develop Kern County’s Community Homeless Court Program and serves as the coordinating agency.

The Community Homeless Court Program serves as an expansion of the Annual Kern County Veterans Stand Down, originating in 1999, designed to serve the needs of homeless veterans.

Sentencing Approach

The Community Homeless Court sentences are designed to recognize progress made and to require participation in local community programs replacing typical sentences such as fines, jail and even more formalized community services orders.

Cases are limited to less serious matters. Felony cases cannot be heard in the Community Homeless Court.