NCJ Number
25415
Journal
Judicature Volume: 58 Issue: 10 Dated: (MAY 1975) Pages: 468-479
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF COURT OBSERVER PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED, AND SUGGESTIONS ON EVALUATING INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND COURT WATCHING IN GENERAL ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
FOUR TYPES OF COURT OBSERVER PROGRAMS ARE IDENTIFIED AND DESCRIBED. THE FIRST TYPE - DEFENDANT PROTECTOR PROJECTS WERE STARTED TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS AND TO LOOK FOR DISCRIMINATION IN THE COURTROOMS. GROUPS INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY INCLUDE THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, AND THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE. THE GOAL OF THE SECOND TYPE OF PROGRAM, 'LAW AND ORDER' GROUPS, IS TO PRESSURE COURTS INTO HARSHER TREATMENT OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS. THE CALIFORNIA-BASED CITIZENS FOR LAW AND ORDER IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TYPE OF GROUP. SPECIFIC DATA PROJECTS, THE THIRD COURT OBSERVER GROUP TYPE, COLLECTS STATISTICS OR OTHER SPECIFIED INFORMATION FOR SURVEYS AND STUDIES. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE THE KINGS COUNTY FAMILY COURT PROJECT. FINALLY, CONCERNED CITIZEN PROJECTS' SUCH AS THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS IN INDIANAPOLIS, COURT OBSERVERS, INC., OR ALLIANCE FOR A SAFER NEW YORK MAY OBSERVE COURTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT BECAUSE OF THE WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS AND THEIR GENERALLY SUBJECTIVE NATURE, COURT OBSERVER EVALUATIONS WOULD BE DIFFICULT. HOWEVER, SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON GOALS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND OBSERVERS ARE OFFERED TO AID IN ATTEMPTS AT EVALUATION.