 Since 1980, MADD has worked to help victims and families devastated by the crime of drunk driving. From advocating for victims' rights to providing emotional support and guidance through the criminal court process, we strive to be there every step of the way.
Our support also includes the Court Monitoring Program – a coordinated effort to hold the criminal courts system accountable for its treatment of drunk-driving cases. Across the country, DUI/DWI cases are often handled inconsistently, pleaded to lesser charges or simply dismissed. MADD advocates for swift and appropriate justice for all DUI/DWI cases.
To truly reduce drunk driving, lawmakers, law enforcement officers and the judicial system must work in concert. MADD is here to help make that happen. The presence of volunteer court monitors from within the community sends a clear message to judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers and court staff: We care about what happens and we’re holding you accountable.
How It Works
The Court Monitoring Program has three goals:
- Compile pertinent information on how DUI/DWI court cases are handled across the nation.
- Identify potential gaps in the prosecution and adjudication process.
- Use the data to help improve the legal system.
 To achieve these goals, we send volunteers trained in legal procedures to observe and note the outcomes of DUI/DWI court proceedings, including arraignments, pre-trial hearings, trials and sentencing cases. The program evaluates the courts through regular review of court proceedings, collection of court data and review of records. To achieve its goals, the program also focuses on forming strong strategic alliances with law enforcement, judges, prosecutors and the defense bar, including public defenders.
Gathering Critical Information.
The key to the program's success is information gathered by community volunteers in three main categories:
- To evaluate the courts, volunteers evaluate judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers and court staff on aspects such as preparedness, understanding of the law(s), treatment of victim(s) and how proceedings were held.
- In tracking offenders, information collected focuses on the offender's charges, previous charges and/or convictions, punishment rendered in any previous convictions and demeanor during proceedings.
- To plot trends in punishment and case outcomes, volunteers record information such as accepted plea bargains and consistency with the offense, the victim(s) role in plea agreement, and punishment of offender including probation, jail time, fines and license suspension/revocation.
Continued Growth and Success.
 The Court Monitoring Program is currently active in Louisiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. We’re planning to expand the program to every state in the nation.
Several colleges and universities have incorporated the program into their course curricula and community service requirements. Students now have the opportunity to monitor DWI/DUI cases to earn course credit or meet their university’s community service requirements. Participating schools include: Xavier University and Tulane University in New Orleans; Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Va.; Southwestern Christian College Terrell, Texas; Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, N.M.; and Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.
Results
Monitoring the courts works. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study that examined court monitoring in Maine showed that in cases where a court monitor was present, the conviction rates of DUI/DWI offenders were 10 percent higher, and case dismissal rates were 70 percent lower.
We’re currently evaluating the effectiveness of the Court Monitoring Program in conjunction with John Hopkins University with funding through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The final report is due spring 2008.
Get Involved.
Become a volunteer monitor for the Court Monitoring Program.
Links
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