A transformative initiative to foster rehabilitation and community support is coming to Paterson.

City officials announced the launch of their community court program on Monday. It will address quality-of-life issues through innovative approaches to justice.

"For low-level, nonviolent offenders who are clogged up in the system and missed out on getting their lives back on track, help is on its way," said Mayor, Andre Sayegh.

Neighborhood-focused programs would offer judicially supervised behavioral health treatment, alternative sanctions-- and other community-based services.

"Individuals that come into our justice system will have an opportunity to address the root causes of their presence in our criminal justice system," said Aymen Aboushi, Paterson Corporation Counsel.

They'll also have the opportunity to utilize services like job training, substance abuse treatment and housing assistance-- and to help get the program up and running, the city has hired two skilled professionals - project director Evi Carillo and case manager Ramon Lopez.

"I look forward to leading this imitative and I want to focus on connecting this community to vital resources that they need to address the root causes of their cases," said Carillo.