District Court Blues grew from the experiences of violators of certain Summary offenses, and the possibility that others might be inspired by their stories if shared with a larger audience.

In District Court 15-1-04, alternative sentencing options are offered in a small number of cases (less than 1% of those filed) in lieu of a portion of the financial penalty. If it appears that a defendant might benefit, s/he may be given the option to, among other things, write a personally meaningful essay about their experience. Our newsletter consists of excerpts from essays written by defendants who have pled or been found guilty of violating specified Statutes or Ordinances.