Court Watch is composed of a variety of citizens who actively take interest in our court system and serve as a link between the community and justice system. It is the desire of Court Watch to aid in bridging the disconnect between the courts and the public via education and awareness of the social implications of sentencing. Court Watch is not meant to be an advocate for lawyers, judges or the police, but rather represent a faction of the community who pay for, and work under, the system.
Court Watch groups provide an unbiased resource to the Media and are valuable since they are able to diffuse tense public situations by explaining the logic behind a ruling or decision. Through Court Watch, criminal court cases will be monitored and statistics will be generated. The data collected from these forms and observations)is the basis for the annual statistics which the group will utilize to:
- Research more information
- Make recommendations
- Provide information when the Committee wants to support community agencies or advocate for more services
- Provide factual information to the public in response to reported misinformation or as part of general public education
- Identify trends and/or changes in statistics which the group can then evaluate in more detail and then make recommendations as needed
- To monitor the administration of justice
For more information on Court Watch please call 250-561-3366.