Court Watch Advocacy: An Overview
Justice Not Prisons proposes an innovative and grassroots response to the crucial problem of mass incarceration: local court watch advocacy projects.
Every person has a local criminal court and this court could be locking up people for long periods of time when shorter sentences, community sentences (fines, restitution), or probation would be more proportional to the crime and more beneficial to victim, perpetrator and the larger society.
To encourage more responsible sentencing, we encourage citizens to establish court watch advocacy projects in local criminal courtrooms throughout the nation. Everyone in the USA has at least one criminal courthouse that purports to do justice on their behalf. But do they?
Many factors presumably enter into sentencing decisions: the seriousness and impact of the crime; culpability of the offender; his/her criminal history; victim impact; local courtroom norms; available treatment resources; purpose behind the sentence - such as retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, repair/healing; and agreements reached in plea bargaining. What often remains unclear, however, is a meaningful articulation of how any particular sentence can be considered just.
Experience strongly indicates that thousands of sentencing decisions every day take insufficient account of what would be just in each case. Those who make sentencing decisions receive far too little information on the context of each case, what the parties want and need, what is available in the community, and what the community wants. As a result, mass incarceration rolls on, unimpeded by serious, sustained reflection and discussion of how we should craft sentences that advance community well-being.
We need to change that. And we need to do it together. Let’s get to court. Let’s observe. Let’s document what’s happening. Let’s let the judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers know that most sentences of incarceration are unjust, an acceptable practice of violence, and a threat to public safety. Let’s suggest some better way.
Local court watch advocacy projects that show that we care can make a serious start toward responsible sentencing. They can accompany offenders and victims, those who have harmed or suffered harm. The mere presence of JNP advocates will speak volumes to the court: we are here, we care, and we shall return - for as long as it takes to get responsible sentencing.
Once these community representatives gain the attention of the local judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and police officers, they can provide information about community preferences and resources for sentencing for the common good.
We invite and encourage you to perform local court watch advocacy projects, and to bear witness to unjust and punitive sentencing:
July Nullification: A Precident for Court Watch Advocacy
Court Watch Advocacy 101
Court Watch Advocacy Documentation
Every person has a local criminal court and this court could be locking up people for long periods of time when shorter sentences, community sentences (fines, restitution), or probation would be more proportional to the crime and more beneficial to victim, perpetrator and the larger society.
To encourage more responsible sentencing, we encourage citizens to establish court watch advocacy projects in local criminal courtrooms throughout the nation. Everyone in the USA has at least one criminal courthouse that purports to do justice on their behalf. But do they?
Many factors presumably enter into sentencing decisions: the seriousness and impact of the crime; culpability of the offender; his/her criminal history; victim impact; local courtroom norms; available treatment resources; purpose behind the sentence - such as retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, repair/healing; and agreements reached in plea bargaining. What often remains unclear, however, is a meaningful articulation of how any particular sentence can be considered just.
Experience strongly indicates that thousands of sentencing decisions every day take insufficient account of what would be just in each case. Those who make sentencing decisions receive far too little information on the context of each case, what the parties want and need, what is available in the community, and what the community wants. As a result, mass incarceration rolls on, unimpeded by serious, sustained reflection and discussion of how we should craft sentences that advance community well-being.
We need to change that. And we need to do it together. Let’s get to court. Let’s observe. Let’s document what’s happening. Let’s let the judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers know that most sentences of incarceration are unjust, an acceptable practice of violence, and a threat to public safety. Let’s suggest some better way.
Local court watch advocacy projects that show that we care can make a serious start toward responsible sentencing. They can accompany offenders and victims, those who have harmed or suffered harm. The mere presence of JNP advocates will speak volumes to the court: we are here, we care, and we shall return - for as long as it takes to get responsible sentencing.
Once these community representatives gain the attention of the local judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and police officers, they can provide information about community preferences and resources for sentencing for the common good.
We invite and encourage you to perform local court watch advocacy projects, and to bear witness to unjust and punitive sentencing:
July Nullification: A Precident for Court Watch Advocacy
Court Watch Advocacy 101
Court Watch Advocacy Documentation