Community. Accountability. Justice.
CourtWatch MA shifts the power dynamics in our courts by opening the courtroom to public scrutiny.
Court Watch MA is a community project with the goal of shifting the power dynamics in our courtrooms by exposing the decisions judges and prosecutors make about neighbors every day.
On January 2, 2019, District Attorneys across Massachusetts began a new term in office.
That day, we launched our First 100 Days Court Watch Project in Suffolk County to hold the District Attorney’s Office accountable for reducing pre-trial detention and addressing racial disparities—promises District Attorney Rachael Rollins boldly campaigned on. That project wrapped up in mid-April 2019. Read more about the project.
Starting in September 2019, we expanded to Essex County to monitor arraignment court, with a particular eye toward documenting racial disparities in bails requested and imposed as well as dangerousness hearings that result in pre-trial detention without the possibility of release. Read more about the project.
In November 2021, we began observing and offering court support to people being prosecuted in the South Bay jail court, a session of the Boston Municipal Court developed inside the Suffolk County House of Correction to target people who are unhoused, poor, and ill. The jail court is moving in parallel with coordinated encampment sweeps by the City of Boston. Follow along on our twitter feed.
Starting in September 2019, we expanded to Essex County to monitor arraignment court, with a particular eye toward documenting racial disparities in bails requested and imposed as well as dangerousness hearings that result in pre-trial detention without the possibility of release. Read more about the project.
In November 2021, we began observing and offering court support to people being prosecuted in the South Bay jail court, a session of the Boston Municipal Court developed inside the Suffolk County House of Correction to target people who are unhoused, poor, and ill. The jail court is moving in parallel with coordinated encampment sweeps by the City of Boston. Follow along on our twitter feed.
We're in court to celebrate reform successes, expose the punishment machine, support our neighbors, and maintain a public record on progress. We post specific case examples on twitter (@CourtWatchMA) and release more in-depth analysis
here on our website with stories and findings from arraignment court.
here on our website with stories and findings from arraignment court.
CourtWatch MA is a joint project of the Massachusetts Bail Fund and Families for Justice as Healing, with technical assistance from the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.