PREPARE
Complete a brief introduction and training so you know what to expect and what to observe.
WHAT IS COURT WATCH?
Transparency starts with showing up.
Court Watch puts trained community volunteers inside public criminal courtrooms to observe the process as it happens.
Volunteers follow proceedings respectfully and complete a structured observation report. Those observations help Memphis Crime Beat identify recurring trends, delays and outcomes—and explain the court system more clearly to the public.
The role is observation, not intervention. Court Watchers do not participate in cases or attempt to influence courtroom decisions.
INSIDE THE COURTROOM
01 Observe02 Document03 Identify patterns04 Explain
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING
WHAT YOU'LL DO
From training to observation.
We prepare you before you ever walk into court.
OBSERVE
Attend a scheduled court session and watch proceedings respectfully from the public gallery.
DOCUMENT
Use a structured observation form to record what you see during the court session.
CONTRIBUTE
Your observations help reveal patterns and support clearer public reporting about the system.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Watch the process.
Notice the patterns.
Court Watch is about understanding how cases move through the system—not judging a case from a single moment.
01
CASE MOVEMENT
How cases progress, continue, resolve or remain pending over time.
02
DELAYS & CONTINUANCES
Recurring reasons proceedings are delayed or reset.
03
COURTROOM PROCESS
What happens during hearings, pleas, trials and other proceedings.
04
OUTCOMES & TRENDS
Patterns in dispositions and other observable parts of the court process.
YOUR FIRST VISIT
Know what to expect before you arrive.
Every new Court Watcher completes an introduction and training before attending court.
For your first visit, you'll be paired with an experienced Court Watcher who can help you navigate the courthouse and observation process.
Court Watch typically takes place on weekdays between 9 AM and 1 PM, with 2-hour blocks available for tighter schedules.
Secure parking near the courthouse is available for Court Watch volunteers.
VOLUNTEER PERSPECTIVES
Hear From Our Court Watchers
Example testimonials — layout preview only. Not actual volunteer statements.
Placeholder for an approved Court Watch volunteer quote about observing criminal court and learning how the system works.
Sample content — not an actual testimonialPlaceholder for an approved Court Watch volunteer quote about their experience with training, observation, and community awareness.
Sample content — not an actual testimonialGET INVOLVED
See the system
for yourself.
Become a trained Court Watcher and help make Memphis' criminal justice system easier for the public to understand.