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The Memphis Environmental Court

An Effective Practice

Description

For well over a century, local governments have usually addressed environmentally destructive behavior by using code enforcement and the penalty systems of the court. However, traditional courts cannot always successfully ensure a safe environment, free of disrepair, litter and pollution. In 1983, the City of Memphis unveiled the nation's third environmental court.

Goal / Mission

The Memphis Enviromental Court was designed to serve as the chief vehicle for enforcing a wide range of laws relating to the health and quality of life of its residents, and to give new meaning to the term "expedient justice" by its ability to respond in a quick and consistent manner. In 1991 the Tennessee State Legislature created the Shelby County Environmental Court, and expanded the new court's powers to include the "injunctive authority" to mandate that defendants comply with the environmental codes.

Results / Accomplishments

Evidence of the Environmental Court's success is exhibited in the fact that since 1991, approximately 95 percent of cases are brought to a successful outcome, resulting in the elimination of public health hazards and public and private nuisances.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
City of Memphis, TN
Primary Contact
Shelby County Environmental Court
201 Poplar Avenue, L.L. 56
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 545-3456
Potter-L@co.shelby.tn.us, Rhodes-P@co.shelby.tn.us
http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/index.aspx?NID=353
Topics
Community / Governance
Environmental Health
Organization(s)
City of Memphis, TN
Source
United States Conference of Mayors
Date of publication
2000
Date of implementation
1983
Location
Shelby County, TN
For more details
http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/best_practices/litter...
Target Audience
Families

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Related Content for: The Memphis Environmental Court

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.