The Homeless Court consists of 2 specialty courts: one in the Boston Municipal Court Department held at the Pine Street Inn and Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, and the other in Cambridge. Started in 2010 as a pilot program, the purpose of the courts is to assist defendants who are homeless or at risk of being homeless secure permanent housing, employment and government benefits.
Upon the completion of a substance addiction treatment program, job training program or mental health treatment, a defendant’s pending or open default warrants are removed in misdemeanor and non-violent felony cases. The cases are dismissed or terminated in consideration of the defendant’s work and efforts to address their behaviors and substance addictions that caused the criminal conduct.
Homeless Court Program Brochure
Learn more about this specialty court with this program brochure, provided as a PDF.