ABOUT COURT WATCH NYC
Court Watch NYC is a volunteer-run anti-carceral project focused on connecting trained court watchers with organizations and people who need them.
OUR MISSION
Court Watch NYC brings New Yorkers into publicly accessible courtrooms across the five boroughs as compassionate witnesses to the harm of the carceral state. As an all-volunteer organization, we aim to serve communities impacted by the courts via partnering with organizations in need of court watchers and providing court support. We strive to shine a light on injustices in the judicial system and the harmful impact it has on communities, and specifically on people of color.
Our ultimate goal for court watching is prison and policing abolition. We strive to demystify the judicial process and to help hold DAs and judges accountable. Beyond our presence in court, we work to train and mobilize court watchers, build community with and uplift the voices of the communities most impacted by the courts, and partner with and support other abolitionist organizations, or organizations whose goals align with our goals, in New York City and across the US.
OUR GOALS
To foster a culture of accountability and transparency by bringing New Yorkers into the courtroom to observe the behaviors of public officials in court
To serve as a resource to other anti-carceral organizations who can use court watching as a tactic
To provide court support to individuals and families looking for additional eyes in the courtroom
To inspire a base of volunteers to stay active and get involved in broader efforts to shrink the criminal legal system in New York City and State
OUR HISTORY
Court Watch NYC was founded in 2018 as a collaborative project between Envision Freedom Fund (formerly the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund), Five Boro Defenders, and VOCAL-NY. CWNYC grew as a program of Envision Freedom for several years before taking a brief hiatus and relaunching as an independent volunteer-run project in 2024.
CONTACT US
To keep up to date with Court Watch NYC, sign up for our mailing list.
For other inquiries, email us at info@courtwatchnyc.org. We look forward to hearing from you!