In a notable advancement of criminal justice reform, Bexar County's "Reflejo Court" has been certified in trauma-informed care, becoming an example for courts across the nation dealing with domestic violence cases. This specialized court focuses on first-time offenders, working to uncover and address the root causes of their actions to prevent future violence. According to a report from FOX San Antonio, the court has a profound emphasis on treatment over punishment.
With Bexar County leading the state in domestic violence incidents, "Reflejo Court" sets itself apart from typical punitive systems. The Ecumenical Center's Executive Director Mary Beth Fisk highlighted the court's distinction, saying, "You’re the only court across the entire nation that we are aware of, that has achieved this level of certification in trauma informed care." Yet, despite dealing with a heavy caseload, the program provides a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that prioritizes healing over incarceration.
Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, the brain behind the Reflejo Court, asserts its critical role in not just punishment but in changing lives. As she told FOX San Antonio, "We get them sober, we treat the trauma, we give them skills so that they don’t come back into the criminal justice system and do not reoffend and that opens bed at the jail for true criminals not traumatized people that have mental health issues." It's a system bent on not only justice but the redemption of people.
The initiative isn't mandatory; applicants must express a desire to change on their own accord. "They have to tell us: I have a problem and I want to change, I want to go home to my family, I don’t want to hurt these people again," Judge Speedlin Gonzalez explained, suggesting that acknowledgment and will are at the program's front door—the beginning of a transformation that endows second chances upon completing a one-year requirement.
Efforts like the "Reflejo Court" may soon spread beyond Bexar County. Having made a tangible impact on recidivism and positively altering the course of previously violent individuals, as reported, Judge Speedlin Gonzalez envisions similar programs being implemented throughout the justice system. It is a recognition that the path to a safer community often lies within the bounds of understanding and rehabilitating rather than solely punishing those who trespass against us.
