Hollywood proclaims 1-year anniversary of Community Court; officials point to housing and service referrals

The City of Hollywood on Feb. 19 proclaimed the one-year anniversary of the Hollywood Community Court, a grant-funded court program that diverts low-level municipal and certain state offenses into social-service referrals and community service instead of traditional prosecution.

City and judicial officials said the program — launched Feb. 18, 2024 — was created with federal technical assistance and grant funding and is intended to address homelessness and underlying needs while holding people accountable. Judge Amanda Cawthorn, the presiding judge of Hollywood Community Court, said the court has served “over 330 individuals, including over 30 families,” handled “over 600 hearings” and presided over nine program graduations during its first year.

Officials said the city obtained federal support through the 2023 Community Courts Initiative, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Center for Court Innovation, and that local partners provide case management, housing and health services. Angela Blaine, the court’s Hollywood community court coordinator, thanked the city, the Hollywood Police Department’s homeless outreach team and service providers such as Henderson Behavioral Health and The Caring Place Broward Outreach Center for their roles in the program.

“Community Court provides hope,” Blaine said, describing how service providers meet defendants’ needs and how the program links people to housing, medical care and benefits. Chief Judge Jack Tudor and other judges credited the court’s collaborative model and urged public awareness of the court’s services.

Ryan Coutts of the city’s Community Development Division described the partnership with Goodman Jewish Family Services and other nonprofits that helps residents facing utility shutoffs, rental crises and other emergencies. Goodman Jewish Family Services’ Michael Kelly and Ronnie Eisenberg presented the city with an “Apple Award” recognizing the partnership and the agency’s wraparound services.

Speakers emphasized the program’s restorative approach rather than punishment. Judge Cawthorn said the court’s work benefits “whether you are a person experiencing homelessness or you are a business owner in Hollywood” and described the program as an opportunity to reduce barriers to self-sufficiency.

Officials noted the program depends on multiple partners — the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, the Broward County Clerk of Courts, the Public Defender’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, Broward Sheriff’s Office and multiple non‑profits — and on the federal grant that funded the court’s launch. City staff credited program staff and grant writers for obtaining the federal award that made Hollywood Community Court possible.

The City Commission hosted a short video, presentations from judicial and service partners, and a photo to mark the anniversary. Officials said they hope to continue and expand the initiative and encouraged the public to learn about the court’s referral options and service partners.

The proclamation and remarks were largely celebratory; officials and partners described the court’s first-year outcomes and urged continued community support and referrals to the program.