The DeKalb County Domestic Violence CourtWatch began in 2002 as a grass roots effort to monitor and improve the relief given to victims of domestic violence in DeKalb County courts. Charles Tucker, a retired communications professor from Northern Illinois University and Pam Wiseman, Director of Safe Passage, a domestic violence agency, saw the need and led the effort to establish the group. The original committee was assembled to work on this mighty task because of a desire to see justice served. After meeting weekly for two months we held our first press conference on October 31, 2002 and stated our purpose to the judges, press, and members of the states attorney's office. Some highlights from that first press conference are that there is a widespread (though inaccurate) perception that victims of domestic violence always find the justice they seek. This failure of the system feeds and perpetuates the cycle of domestic violence. The cornerstone of American democracy is maintenance of an informed citizenry. To that end, the DeKalb County Domestic Violence CourtWatch Program will bring enhanced public scrutiny to one very specific part of that system: the courts that deal with domestic violence. We will establish a corps of citizen-volunteers who will regularly attend and observe the proceedings in these courtrooms. The explicit purpose will be to witness whether justice is accomplished and whether it is carried out properly.

In January 2003, CourtWatch trained its first volunteers. From that original group, seven volunteers are still observing court, as faithful today as when they began. In May 2004, a group of additional volunteers was trained. Presently there are 15 volunteers in court three days a week observing judicial demeanor and reporting monthly for debriefing and continuing education.

We expressed concern, in April 2003, to the judges about complying with a particular part of Illinois law. Specifically, the 72-hour no-contact bail condition for perpetrators was observed being implemented in only 25% of the cases. After expressing our concerns, this condition of bail increased up to 66% of the cases. The judges in DeKalb County are confronted with a large number of cases and are often pressured into hearing cases quickly and then to permit numerous delays and continuances. The slow progress of cases through the system and the relatively quick hearing of cases tend to favor the most egregious offenders. The judges often then do not have time to build up an appreciation for the case. Domestic violence is a complex phenomenon. Our perception is that the overtaxing of judges may lead them to be excessively harsh and hasty in their handling of criminal cases. This reputation for harshness is usually seen as a deterrent to criminals; however, we do not often see this happen in practice.

In December 2003, CourtWatch met with the presiding judge in DeKalb County and the Chief Judge for the 16^th Judicial Circuit. Initially we were told that there was no money for judicial domestic violence training. We expressed our concern about the demeanor of the judges hearing domestic violence cases, citing specific instances. As a result of this meeting, money for the training of the judges was promised, as well as a better sound system so court proceedings may be better heard. These two issues are ongoing today.

CourtWatch held its second press conference in February 2004. We had developed four professional criteria on which to assess whether a judge presiding over domestic violence cases does, in fact, have an understanding of domestic violence and respects the distinctiveness of this crime. We have been observing the judges hearing domestic violence cases for over one year now and reported that none of the judges met any of the four criteria we found to be important for hearing domestic violence cases. These four criteria are:

1. Be professionally active on the committees of the Coordinating Council for the Prevention of Domestic Violence established by the 16^th Judicial Circuit.
2. Demonstrate an interest in the dynamics of domestic violence by attending educational activities and professional events on the subject.
3. Acknowledge that the Illinois Domestic Violence Act labels abuse as the defining crime, only one part of which is domestic battery.
4. Demonstrate courtroom demeanor appropriate to the unique dynamics of domestic violence.

We were the lead story on WTVO-Rockford after our press conference. Even though we did not name the judges in our report, it was possible to determine about whom we were speaking. One of the judges, who received a favorable report from the volunteers, began using that information in her campaign for reelection. We are affecting change and we are being taken very seriously.

Beginning our second year as an official organization, CourtWatch plans to expand its efforts. We will continue to monitor judicial demeanor with an emphasis on the treatment of orders of protection, educating the public about the judicial process regarding domestic violence, analyzing the observations of the CourtWatch volunteers, and disseminating the results of their work.

CourtWatch is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. We operate with a minimum budget. Members of the committee (seven) meet monthly and have personally funded our activities. We had one fundraiser and are looking to do more in an attempt to expand our efforts. We have two advisors that assist with our planning, including Joan Rappaport from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and Pam Wiseman from Safe Passage. If anyone is interested in volunteering with CourtWatch, please contact the ICADV office for more information at 271/789-2830.

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