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Citizen monitoring of courts as a means of creating system change

WATCH has developed a highly effective court monitoring method involving citizen volunteers as a means of creating legal and policy system change and improving the administration of justice for victims of abuse. WATCH volunteers first entered a courtroom in Hennepin County, Minnesota (USA) in March 1993. Since that time WATCH trains 50 volunteers each year who, along with staff, monitor more than 4,500 court hearings regarding sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence cases. They are immediately recognized by the red clipboards they carry. These highly visible red clipboards serve to alert judges and court staff that they are being observed and monitored.

Developing pro bono services in the professional legal community

Expanding Access to Justice notebook imageSince 2001, Brazil’s Instituto Pro Bono has worked to persuade individual lawyers and law firms to provide free legal services for nonprofit organizations and people in need.