8 Reads
The Community Court in Hartford deals with low-level misdemeanors and town ordinances often referred to as "quality of life" crimes. In other words, the behaviors of those charged with these crimes contribute to the deterioration of the quality of life in local neighborhoods and communities. Local law enforcement agencies are the front-line in dealing with these matters. In Hartford, much of that responsibility rests with the Hartford Police Department's Community Service Officers, each of whom is assigned to a specific neighborhood. The CSOs work with local residents and businesses to maintain open lines of communication and raise awareness of "hot spots" for criminal activities in the neighborhoods. In the course of their duties, the CSOs often deal directly with the low-level criminal matters which comprise a great deal of the Community Court's caseload.