Court Watch Montgomery aims to ensure that all victims of intimate partner violence in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland have access to responsive justice and vital services that will stop abuse quickly and permanently. To achieve this goal, we monitor and collect data on court hearings, recommend changes to improve policy and practice, and hold judges and court personnel accountable for providing a safe and respectful court environment.
Check us out!: courtwatchmontgomery.org/
For more than three years, I have been volunteering with Court Watch Montgomery, an organization that offers vital services to the community. This group functions as a watchdog within the courtroom, advocating for the interests of domestic violence victims and providing consolidated data and analysis on judges' compliance with safety procedures for victims and their families both inside and outside of the courtroom. By supporting this organization, we can all help ensure that justice is served and that everyone involved in the legal process behaves in a fair and just manner.
I began volunteering for Court Watch Montgomery (CWM) after serving as president of an agency that provides services to abuse victims. Monitoring domestic violence protective order hearings with CWM has increased my understanding of the issues and harm facing domestic abuse victims and how the legal system can provide help and protection. The feedback that CWM provides to the judiciary makes a difference.
I am a loyal donor to Court Watch Montgomery as this nonprofit tirelessly works to improve the court system so victims of domestic violence are safer, recommending approaches that are data driven and impactful. The recent report regarding staggered exits is particularly insightful.
Court Watch's work is having a hugely positive impact on victims of domestic violence due to its high quality reports. They are working to create a world where victims feel safe in court and have a data backed approach to analyzing / presenting their findings. This approach greatly increases the usefulness and credibility of their reporting. Smaller nonprofits like this need more support generally - especially this one. They struggle tirelessly to ensure that victims are safer and treated with more respect as they navigate the court system.
Court Watch may be a small and scrappy nonprofit yet its many accomplishments have proven to make a mighty impact on the Montgomery County court system. Their cadre of intellectually curious and dedicated volunteers are trained to sit several hours on a hard bench in court as unbiased observers collecting data to get justice for victims of domestic violence . This data-driven organization makes judicious use of its limited resources. It relies on its volunteers of diverse ages and background who believe that every victim of intimate partner violence deserves rapid and comprehensive legal protection and respectful treatment by judges, lawyers, bailiffs, and court personnel. Volunteers, the heart and soul of this nonprofit's effort, have shared that their meaningful experience with Court Watch has not only raised their awareness of the social scourge that is domestic violence, but several have decided to choose careers in social justice and family law. Both the organization and its volunteers are inspiring and with additional funding could further expand its impact.