Keeping watch

Carol Zar of DeKalb is a self-described political junkie and has always been interested in law and government.

But it was not until she started volunteering with DeKalb County CourtWatch that she became more involved in local judicial proceedings.

Zar is the president of DeKalb County CourtWatch, a group of local citizens interested in court cases related to domestic violence. Formed in 2002, CourtWatch’s official mission is “to influence court practices to increasingly conform to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, to promote victims’ safety and abuser accountability and to create a more informed and involved public.”

Members attend court once or twice per month to observe the proceedings and to evaluate whether victims of domestic violence are treated fairly in court.

Meetings are held every month except August and feature speakers who educate members about community affairs ranging from policing to mental health. Meetings are open to the public.

The next meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. in DeKalb. For more information about DeKalb County CourtWatch, visit www.courtwatchdekalb.org.

Zar met with MidWeek reporter Katrina Milton to discuss DeKalb County CourtWatch and the importance of sitting in on courtroom proceedings as a member of the public.

Milton: Tell me about CourtWatch.

Zar: The reason CourtWatch first started is that often, victims of domestic violence are re-victimized by the court system. They’re told they must have done something wrong to make him angry or they’re blamed for what happened. By having someone in the community sitting there and watching the court proceedings, independent of what’s been going on, it’s almost as if someone is there to listen and have their back. It’s also a way to make sure every procedure is fair and doesn’t have any issues, that the court system is held accountable and to be made aware if x, y or z has been going on.

Milton: Do you think a lot of people know about CourtWatch?

Zar: I don’t think most people know that anyone from the public can attend court proceedings. Not too many people know what CourtWatch is, either. It’s a really interesting group to volunteer with that doesn’t require a lot of time commitment. Volunteers visit court about two times a month on average. They can attend whatever cases spark their interest, whatever they find fascinating. The only rule is that we are not allowed to sit in on juvenile cases.

Milton: Why did you get involved with CourtWatch?

Zar: I have absolutely no legal background, I joined because I was interested in court proceedings. I worked at the university, and my field was local government. I didn’t know much about the judicial process. I heard about the group and was interested in visiting a courtroom. There are a lot of reasons people get involved. Maybe they know someone that was a victim of domestic violence. Volunteering with CourtWatch is a way to give back to the community by providing an outside view.

Milton: What other activities do members of CourtWatch participate in?

Zar: Once a month, we have a meeting that features an educational program. It’s a way for our members to learn more about what’s going on in the community. We’ve had speakers from Safe Passage, the police department, state’s attorney’s office and Children’s Advocacy Center. They discuss a wide range of issues.

Milton: Does the group often speak to judges?

Zar: Once a year, our board meets with the judges in the county. We raise any issues we’ve noticed and ask questions. They have always been very forthcoming with us. They see us as a link to the community, helping spread the word about what is happening legally in the county. … Over the years, the judges have grown to respect what we do. We’re a bridge in the community between the public and the judiciary system.

Milton: What is volunteering with CourtWatch like?

Zar: When you volunteer, you walk into the courthouse through a metal detector. You go to the clerk’s office, where you pick up a docket for the day. I like to attend bond call, which is after someone is arrested and the judge is making the decision whether they’re out on recognizance or bond and bail conditions are made for their release. There are several courtrooms with cases at the same time.

Milton: Are real courtrooms similar to those on TV?

Zar: It’s a little bit different, but I know that one of the older courtrooms was used as a filming location before. In a courtroom, there’s a bailiff with a red jacket that calls the room to order. Their role is to maintain the order in the court. A clerk sits to the side of the judge, calling out the case name and number. In criminal cases, it’s the person’s name vs. the state. The accused always has representation, either a private attorney or a public defender. The attorneys do all the talking to the judge. The only time a judge talks directly to the accused is during the arraignment, when they announce how they’re pleading. There’s a lot of protocol to follow, and if you’ve never been to a courtroom before, it can all be very confusing.

Milton: What is something you learned by volunteering with CourtWatch?

Zar: I was unaware how long it takes from the beginning to the end of the process, how many different steps there are between being arrested and the case coming to a conclusion. I also learned that if an individual is found guilty of domestic abuse, they are sentenced to show their progress. There is a court date and they must show an assessment and proof they are enrolled in classes or doing community service. I was surprised to learn that it’s not over with a sentence.

Milton: What about anger management classes?

Zar: That’s something that we always try to clarify, that domestic abuse does not happen because of anger, but because of control. Domestic abuse often occurs because alcohol or drugs were involved. The abuse happens because the person wants to have power over another individual. CourtWatch has worked with local judges to try and stress that domestic abuse has to do with power, not anger.

Milton: Were you surprised that domestic violence occurs so close to home?

Zar: Unfortunately, domestic violence happens everywhere, even in DeKalb County, even in the smallest towns in the county, not just DeKalb or Sycamore. In court there are people of every race, color, ethic group and socio-economic background, everyone across the board. When I was in court, there were Russian, Spanish and sign language interpreters, all for domestic abuse cases, in addition to English. Domestic abuse is all about power, and any relationship can have that happen. There are many more males abusing females, but there are also females abusing males, same-sex partners, child to parent, parent to child and elder abuse.

Milton: What do you think makes DeKalb County CourtWatch successful?

Zar: DeKalb County judges are open to having us there, it’s a collaborative relationship with them, rather than adversarial, which is why I think we’ve been successful. Also, we’re independent of any social service agency or law or government entity, so we have a neutral observing position. I think that it’s important for the courts to know that there are community members interested in knowing what it is they’re doing.