Community Care Court (CCC) is a unique problem-solving court that targets individuals charged with ordinance violations and misdemeanor non-violent crimes typically associated with homelessness, which may include but are not limited to: panhandling, open container, trespass, theft, sleeping in a park, etc. CCC began in Sarasota County in 2019, and in Manatee County in 2024.
CCC engages chronic and long-term homeless individuals and provides them with services and opportunities to change and improve their lives. CCC employs multidisciplinary strategies that include the coordination or resources among the criminal justice system, health and social services, education systems, and the community.
The goal of CCC is to stop the cycle of homelessness and the crimes related to being homeless by offering opportunities to reach self-sufficiency and end recidivism through engagement in social services and therapeutic treatment opportunities in the community.
CCC is completely voluntary and allows participants to choose to enter as an alternative to addressing pending non-violent ordinance violations and misdemeanor offenses. CCC holds monthly court dockets to monitor the progress of each participant and make the program available to those who would like to change and improve their lifestyle.
CCC is a voluntary program and Defendants may enter CCC a variety of different ways. Defendants may be screened at the jail or identified by the homeless outreach team; the defendant or his/her attorney may request CCC; it may be recommended to a defendant at first appearances; or any other myriads of ways. Defendants interested in participating in CCC should contact the clerk’s office for the next CCC court date.
CCC connects a willing homeless defendant with the local homeless outreach teams and releases the defendant from custody with the condition that they work with the team to make a lifestyle change to end the cycle of homelessness and the crimes associated with being homeless.
CCC uses a team that may include local law enforcement officers, social service agencies, and non-profit agencies who provide a variety of case management services that may include temporary housing, addiction treatment, or other related referrals for assistance. Each county has different teams, different community partners, and different available resources in CCC.
All CCC defendants are given a plan. Each plan is created and tailored to the defendant’s specific needs with the goals of permanent housing and ending recidivism. Defendants work with their care team in-between court dates. If a defendant does not comply with the CCC program terms or is rearrested, their plan may either be modified or they may be terminated from the program and returned to the criminal division to address the pending charges.
All defendants who successfully complete the CCC program will graduate and have their charges dismissed or reduced.
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Chief Judge in Rules 2.215 and 2.535, Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin., and in accordance with Article V, §2, Florida Constitution, and §43.26, Florida Statutes, this court hereby recognizes Community Care Court as a problem-solving court in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
This administrative order is effective immediately.