D.C. Misdemeanor and Traffic Community Court focuses largely on quality-of-life offenses.
Unlike traditional courts, a community court has a much broader array of responses than just fines or short jail stays. The court seeks not only to punish defendants/offenders, but also to repair the harm caused by the offense. A community court frequently requires defendants/offenders to "pay back" the community by performing court-supervised community service. The court also seeks to reduce the likelihood of future offenses by linking offenders with services such as drug treatment, job training, and mental health care.