The courts serve the citizens of North Carolina and should be the last resort for resolving disputes. A number of new programs designed to help individuals, families, and most importantly, our children can be described broadly as therapeutic justice. This simply means that litigants and those close to them normally spend more time receiving counseling and related services and less time in the courtroom.
The Guardian ad Litem program trains community volunteers who are appointed by a district court judge to investigate and determine the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by the Department of Social Services.
In an effort to broaden the scope of the court programs offered by the North Carolina Courts System, Mecklenburg County has added several programs and services to assist its citizens.
Programs of significance are the "Court Clubhouse Program" designed to assist parents with child care during courthouse visits, the "SelfServe Center Program" designed to assist people in repesenting themselves in certain legal matters, the Post-Judgment Center and Fine Collection. Please see adjoining column for more information on these and other court programs.