Maryland's first "community court," designed to siphon off small-crime cases from Baltimore's backlogged Circuit Court, got a $224,000 boost to its first-year budget yesterday.

The federal grant from the Justice Department, announced by Maryland's Democratic Senators Paul S. Sarbanes and Barbara A. Mikulski, will be used to help identify which offenders -- in minor crimes such as panhandling and vandalism -- might need further help from social service agencies.

Under the current system, such offenders generally receive little punishment and even less attention, except for their time in court.

In Circuit Court, such cases often clog the docket, delaying trials for murders and other serious crimes.

It is hoped that Baltimore's first community court will lighten this load when it opens January on Gay Street.

Costing about $1.9 million per year to run, it will keep offenders busy with community service sentences -- cleaning up trash, planting trees, washing off graffiti.

The grant, from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, is one of six intended to promote the use of community courts around the country.

Pub Date: 3/20/99