On Jan. 17, Dr. Fei Yang, Director of the Houston Laboratory for Crime and Justice and assistant professor at UHD’s College of Public Service, hosted an information session for the Houston Court Watch program. The session laid out the basics of the program and its overall goal: empowering students to uphold democracy by monitoring local criminal courtrooms.
Inscribed in the Constitution is the right for the public to witness court proceedings as a safeguard for justice and fairness. In doing so, the public can report any instances of discrimination and unfair treatment of defendants by court judges.
With livelihoods getting busier and busier, the general public is less likely to attend a court proceeding that is not their own for hours at a time. Unfortunately, this gives more leeway for judges to make decisions without repercussions. The Houston Court Watch program works to send a message to judges that they are being watched.
During the Houston Court Watch Information Session, Yang pointed out one of the serious discrepancies students noticed in how defendants and judges are held accountable for committing the same actions.
“While the judges were always late, if the defendants are late, they are sent to jail. Nothing happens to the judges even if they waste time,” stated Yang.
Houston Court Watch participants also noticed the change in behaviors among judges when speaking to defendants of different demographics.
All reports made by the Houston Court Watch program are then shared in debriefings. Students, faculty members, and representatives from the Harris County judicial system are invited to listen in on the current state of the court system in Houston according to those reports.
There are also Houston Court Watch Symposiums in which students present next to a poster they have made that includes all their findings and research throughout their time as a court watcher. With these symposiums, the public is welcome to educate themselves on the court system and what can be done to reform the criminal justice system.
“This experience empowers students to voice their opinions about the importance of civilian oversight and its impact on criminal justice reform,” Yang said.
Lauren Parker, president of Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society at UHD, emphasizes the importance of the public knowing their constitutional right to court watch and correcting any misconceptions they have about the court system.
Many people do not have a full understanding of what our court system is truly like due to the misinformation that exists due to the portrayal of the court system in television shows and movies,” said Parker “Many are not aware that they have the right to watch court proceedings. Once people learn what constitutional rights they have, they will better learn how to exercise them.”
The idea of the government is frightening to think about for many people. Regardless, it is during these times that civic engagement is needed more than ever. What is heard on national news easily distracts the public from wrongdoings that happen on a daily basis in local courts.
“I am really proud to have the court watch program at the University of Houston-Downtown,” said Associate Vice President for University Advancement Johnathan Schwartz.
“It provides a wonderful vehicle for our students to learn about our court system while becoming involved in reforming the court system through civic observation and reporting. Our criminal justice students have the opportunity to participate through service learning and take the valuable lessons into their diverse criminal justice careers.”
The Houston Court Watch program is a deeply enlightening and educational experience for anyone who wishes to make a career in the criminal justice field. It is an opportunity to engage with the community and analyze what still needs work within the criminal justice system.
