Gain comprehensive insights into court navigation programs across the United States, compiled through extensive research by Policy Research. Our court navigator work has culminated in two key resources: the “Court Navigator Resource Guide,” which provides detailed findings from site visits and interviews with five programs, and the “National Compendium of Court Navigation Programs,” which offers an overview of 18 programs across 22 states.
These resources provide valuable information on program structures, funding sources, core components, and services that support individuals navigating the legal system, linking them to behavioral health, economic, and social services. Both guides serve as tools for courts, service providers, and communities aiming to implement or expand court navigation services.
Court Navigator Resource Guide
From 2022–2023, Policy Research Associates (PRA) researchers completed a national scan of court navigator programs and found 18 programs located across 21 different states.
Following the national scan, PRA researchers conducted site visits and interviews with five programs to gain a greater understanding of the structure and operations of each program and to learn about the programs via the opinions and experiences of the navigators, the people who work with navigators, and the people who have received services from the navigators.
The Court Navigator Resource Guide summarizes the findings of these site visits and interviews. In the following sections, we provide an overview of our methodology, identify the purpose and organization of the guide, describe the five court navigator programs, and offer key takeaways for other jurisdictions that may be interested in implementing court navigator programs.
First shared in 2024.
Resource Guide Citation
Zottola, S. A., Morrissey, B., Massey, I., & Desmarais, S. L. (2024). A resource guide on court navigator programs: Providing connections and support across the legal and behavioral health systems. Policy Research Associates. https://www.prainc.com/resource-library.
Court Navigator Compendium
A National Compendium of Court Navigation Programs was authored by Policy Research Associates in partnership with the State Justice Institute. This Compendium provides an overview of 18 court navigation programs operating in 22 states across the United States.
A court navigation program provides guidance and information to people in contact with the court system on court processes and procedures. In addition, they can link people in contact with the court system to behavioral health, economic, and social service-related needs.
The Compendium provides an overview of the funding source, the program’s core components, and the program’s implementation. Each program overview is accompanied by a checklist showing where the program’s navigators provide support across the legal system. Program overviews also have checklists outlining specific services each program offers related to a person’s behavioral health, economic, social, and legal needs.
The Compendium can serve as a tool for courts to develop their own court navigation program and expand services. It can also assist court administrators, treatment and service providers, families, and community members with ensuring that people in contact with the court system can have their needs met and navigate the court system successfully.
First shared in 2023.
Compendium Citation
Zottola, S. A., Morrissey, B., Massey, I., Hope, E.C., & Desmarais, S. L. (2023). A national compendium of court navigation and support services. Troy, NY: Policy Research Associates. https://www.prainc.com/resource-library