Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH) - Young Adult Court
EACH is a novel, collaborative court for high-risk young adults arrested in Hampden County. Launched in early 2020 at Springfield District Court, the program provides an alternative to incarceration for individuals between the ages of 18 to 24 – emerging adults who are at a critical developmental stage.
The program is an intensive, minimum of 18-month commitment where participants engage in programming focused on mental health and behavioral patterns, securing housing, parenting (if relevant), and developing career pathways through education and job training. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni developed EACH, in partnership with various community organizations and state agencies, and with major support from the Trial Court, including Probation and the Specialty Court program.
EACH offers the opportunity for an individual’s charges to be dismissed following successful completion of the program.
Homeless Court
Homeless Court is held at the Pine Street Inn. Started in 2010 as a pilot program, the purpose of the Court is to assist defendants who are homeless or at risk of being homeless secure permanent housing, employment, and government benefits by resolving warrants and addressing criminal matters which are barriers to greater stability.
Upon the completion of a substance use 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.
If you have a case and want more information about whether the Homeless Court is an option for you, please speak with your defense attorney and/or your probation officer. For general information, contact specialty.courts@jud.state.ma.us.