Over the last decade in particular, the United Kingdom, in common with other jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States (US) and Australia, has sought to develop more effective ways of responding to criminal behaviour and social disorder through court reforms designed to address specific manifestations of crime. Strongly influenced by developments in US court specialisation, problem-solving and specialist courts including domestic violence courts, drugs courts, community courts, anti-social behaviour response courts, family drug and alcohol courts, mental health courts and youth courts have proliferated in Britain over the last few years. Specialist and problem-solving courts operate at the intersection of criminal law and social policy and appear to challenge much of the traditional model of court practice.

Through analysis of the practices and procedures of these courts in England and Wales, as well as legislative and policy interventions, this book examines the impact of the creation and development of court specialisation and identifies recurrent inadequacies in law and public policy in this area.