This Is the Courtwatch Manual Developed by the Montana
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MCADSV Courtwatch Training Manual TTTHHHEEE MMOOONNNTTTAAANNNAAA CCCOOOAAALLLIIITTTIIIOOONNN AAAGGGAAAIIINNNSSSTTT DDDOOOMMMEEESSSTTTIIICCC AAANNNDDD SSEEEXXXUUUAAALLL VVVIIIOOOLLLEEENNNCCCEEE CCCOOOUUURRRTTTWWWAAATTTCCCHHH TTTRRRAAAIIINNNIIINNNGGG MMMAAANNNUUUAAALLL © MCADSV 2007 This project is supported by the grant # 2004 MUAX 0048, awarded by the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Points of view in this manual are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. MCADSV Courtwatch Training Manual COURTWATCH TABLE OF CONTENTS IINTRODUCTIONNTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 4 AACKNOWLEDGEMENTSCKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... 5 BBACKGROUND:ACKGROUND: CCOURTWATCHOURTWATCH DDEFINEDEFINED......................................................................... 7 HHISTORYISTORY OOFF MMCADSVCADSV CCOURTWATCHOURTWATCH MMANUALANUAL........................................................... 9 DEVELOPING A COURTWATCH PROGRAM..................................................................... 12 Creating the Program ...........................................................................................................................13 Strategic Planning ................................................................................................................................14 Fundraising Opportunities ................................................................................................................22 IIMPLEMENTINGMPLEMENTING A CCOURTWATCHOURTWATCH PPROGRAMROGRAM............................................................. 24 Role of Steering Committee and Advisory Council ....................................................................25 Volunteers...............................................................................................................................................28 Recruitment..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29 Application Process..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32 Volunteer Orientation....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34 Managing & Sustaining Volunteers........................................................................................................................................................................................................37 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................45 How to Monitor..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................45 What to Do With the Results of Court Monitoring........................................................................................................................................................................55 UUNDERSTANDINGNDERSTANDING TTHEHE LLAWAW AANDND TTHEHE CCOURTSOURTS............................................................ 60 Civil Law................................................................................................................................................. 61 Criminal Law .........................................................................................................................................63 The Public’s Rights ..............................................................................................................................66 Purpose of the Courts..........................................................................................................................67 The Montana Court System...............................................................................................................68 Courts of Limited Jurisdiction...................................................................................................................................................................................................................69 District Courts.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................71 Roles and Responsibilities of the Justice System Personnel........................................................................................................................................................73 DDomesomestic aandnd SSexualexual VViioolleencence SSttaattuutteess .........................................................................................76 GGLOSSARYLOSSARY................................................................................................................................. 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................... 90 APPENDIX.................................................................................................................................. 94 How to Conduct Surveys and Focus Groups ................................................................................96 Conducting Surveys...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................98 Conducting Focus Groups............................................................................................................................................................................................................110 Following Domestic Violence through the Justice System ......................................................116 Courtwatch Sample Forms .............................................................................................................. 122 Sample Advisory Council Supplements...............................................................................................................................................................................................122 "Developing a Courtwatch Program” Supplements......................................................................................................................................................................126 2 MCADSV Courtwatch Training Manual Volunteer Forms..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................130 Court Monitoring Forms............................................................................................................................................................................................................................149 Volunteer Orientation Manual................................................................................................................................................................................................................158 3 MCADSV Courtwatch Training Manual IIntroductionntroduction This is the manual was developed by the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV) and is intended to serve as a resource and a guide for those communities in Montana that would like to implement their own Courtwatch program. Please keep in mind that the goal for these communities is to use this manual as a guideline to develop a program that not only meets their needs but is achievable according to available resources. It is in no way a requirement for a new Courtwatch program to adhere to every aspect of development found in this manual. The most important thing is to work with the community in the best manner possible in order to facilitate the change necessary to ensure victims’ safety in the courts. This manual was developed specifically for Montana communities by using input from MCADSV member programs, community partners, and through research and technical assistance from court monitoring programs across the country. All of the information included in this manual is information only and should never be construed as legal advice. The MCADSV Courtwatch manual has been divided up into the following sections: ♦ Background: Courtwatch Defined ♦ History of MCADSV Courtwatch Manual ♦ Developing a Courtwatch Program ♦ Implementing a Courtwatch Program ♦ Understanding the Law and the Courts ♦ Glossary ♦ Appendices A Courtwatch program is an excellent opportunity to increase public awareness about the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence within your community. It provides an