Court Watch SF

Ensuring Justice: Monitoring Court Proceedings for Public Safety and Accountability

We monitor court proceedings to ensure judges and prosecutors consider public safety and the rights of victims of crimes when handling criminal cases. We follow cases that involve repeat offenders, attacks against our elders, and other serious offenses.

We gather data on the outcomes in courtrooms because we believe our judicial system works best when it is transparent and fair to both defendants and victims. Data compiled by Court Watch SF educates the public about the actions of judges, the district attorney’s office, and the defense attorneys.

Court Watch SF also serves as an advocate for victims. Our presence helps victims feel supported and heard. We involve the media when it is necessary to shine light on cases.

Joining and Participating in the Court Watch Program: Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Commitments

  • Image of a courtroom hearing

    How the Court Watch Program Operates

    Community volunteers play a crucial role in our Court Watch program. When you join as a volunteer, you will receive regular emails listing upcoming cases. You can choose which trials to attend, and after each session, you will report your observations using our online form. This process helps us gather valuable data on courtroom outcomes, That information helps show trends and points out anomalies.

  • A Court Watch Watcher during a Court hearing, recording the hearing

    What is a Court Watch SF Coordinator?

    Coordinators are the program managers who track cases and organize the volunteer attendees who appear in court, assist them with the process, and answer any questions that the volunteers may have. They compile the information that the volunteers have observed and reported back.  

    In the future we will be seeking additional Court Watch SF coordinators so we can scale the Court Watch SF program to follow more cases. The goal is to strengthen, support, and expand our team of Court Watch SF volunteers.
  • A Court Watch watcher taking notes during a hearing

    Time Commitment for Court Watch Volunteers

    Volunteers have flexible time commitments based on their roles:

    Volunteers need to be available during court hours, which are weekdays from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. There is a lunch break from 12:00PM to 1:00PM. Many sessions are in the morning at 9:00AM and can last two or three hours. Volunteers choose which hearings they want to attend based on their availability and interests.  This is not like jury duty when you must commit to a full trial for days on end. You will only attend one court hearing for a few hours on a given day. You will get a list of dates by email and then choose which hearings to attend, if any.  Attending only one hearing a month or even one a quarter is welcome, and will make an impact.

     

Join the Court Watch Program

Ready to make a difference in your community? Click the button below to join our Court Watch program and help ensure a safer, more accountable San Francisco.

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