Better Courts for Kids is a member of the National Association of Court Monitoring Programs.

HOME ABOUT US WHY COURT MONITORING? LEGISLATION HOW YOU CAN HELP		Why Court Monitoring? Court monitoring volunteers are trained in the issues of child deprivation, what to monitor, and how to respectfully observe while making notes on court monitoring forms. The presence of observers in the courtroom sends the message that the public cares what happens there. A judge said this about WATCH, a court monitoring non-profit organization, “They hold up a mirror [to us]...and sometimes we don’t like what we see.” Observing hearings day after day provides a picture of a local justice system and its procedures and practices. Independent court monitoring groups are in a unique position to document problems and make recommendations. Court monitoring exists for the purpose of promoting accountability in a justice system. Public presence in the courts offers different perspectives of courtroom proceedings. Court Monitoring programs report on how juvenile cases are handled within the justice system as well as highlighting community issues that may be routinely overlooked. Courtroom observations are not designed to “get anyone in trouble” but exist to help improve the juvenile justice system. A set of fresh eyes in the courtroom may identify something that courtroom personnel fail to notice due to years of the same routine in court. Court monitoring represents the public interest of the community, but community input is essential to its success. Every successful court monitoring program began by working with those who would be affected by its efforts to improve the justice system: judges, attorneys, Department of Family and Children Services case workers, foster parents, adoption agencies; all of those who are involved in the juvenile court system, including the general public. Community involvement can increase public awareness of the juvenile court system, ultimately building confidence in the justice system.
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