City seeks kind courts

THE CITY is trying to build kinder, gentler courtrooms.

At Manhattan Criminal Court, judges are being urged to watch their language — avoiding legal jargon, calling people by their name rather than “the defendant,” and greeting people when they enter.

Defendants will be surveyed on their experience at court — and get a $15 Dunkin Donuts gift card for filling out the questionnaire.

“If a litigant feels they’re being treated with respect, they have an idea what’s going on . . . they’re more likely to perceive the process as fair,” said Adam Mansky of the Center for Court Innovation, which is working on the program with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Office of Court Administration. “They’re more likely to comply with their obligations, come back to court, pay their fine.”

The city is picking up the tab for the program, which totals $800,000.

In meetings with judges, court officers and clerks, the groups will encourage courtroom personnel to introduce themselves, say good morning, and ask if everyone can hear what’s going on.

Judges are being urged to say that they assume the defendant is innocent and not to refer to people as “defendants” or “bodies,” instead calling them by name.

The surveys will be given out to people leaving arraignment and other pretrial parts of court.

It asks people how confident they feel in police, prosecutors, judges, their defense attorney, and whether they think the criminal courts treat defendants with dignity and respect, according to a copy of the questionnaire.

The gift cards are being given out because research ethics boards frown on having people participate in research without compensation, Mansky said.