It’s funny how paths cross in life; at the same time I started my journey as a court watcher in pursuit of accountability and transparency, it turns out two of my favorite organizations were on the same page, along side me, just in another community.
And very soon, we could arrive at predictive analytics for Kalamazoo County.
In a groundbreaking initiative intending to scrutinize impartiality of the justice system, NowKalamazoo and Kalamazoo Defender launched the Kalamazoo Court Observers program.
This project, funded by the Urban Institute’s Catalyst Grant Program, aims to collect and analyze data from local court proceedings to assess whether justice is truly administered without bias in Kalamazoo County.
We can soon answer questions about judges over sentencing, whether they are applying different standards to defendants in similar situations,
…Sounds a smidge familiar, doesn’t it? 😉
The program enlists and compensates local residents to attend court sessions and document various data points, such as bail decisions, plea deals, and sentencing outcomes. The collected data will be aggregated into a unified database for statistical analysis, seeking to uncover patterns and potential disparities in the judicial process.
This effort builds upon a pilot program initiated by Kalamazoo Defender in late 2023, which highlighted notable inconsistencies in court proceedings and underscored the need for systematic observation.
SaConna Johnson, Kalamazoo Defender’s client advocate manager, spearheaded the initial cohort of court observers and was recognized with the Liberty Bell Award by the Kalamazoo County Bar Association for her contributions to improving the court system. Johnson emphasized the importance of community involvement in observing and understanding courtroom dynamics, stating,
You start to see inconsistencies. The community needs to see what actually goes on in the courtroom.
SaConna Johnson, Client Advocate Manager
Nathan Browning of Kiaer Research, a partner in the project, pointed out the lack of accessible data in the criminal justice system compared to other public sectors.
He noted, “We have public budgets, public traffic data, things like that, easily accessible to the public, but what we don’t have is data around sentencing and criminal justice.”
This initiative seeks to fill that gap, providing the community with valuable insights into the functioning of their local courts.
NowKalamazoo will serve as the storytelling arm of the project, reporting on the program’s progress, sharing stories of those involved, and presenting findings from the data collection. This approach aligns with their commitment to solutions journalism, focusing not only on issues but also on the efforts to address them.
Want to Get Involved?
Court watching is an important civic duty. You can truly change someone’s life, simply by paying attention.
For those interested in participating as court observers or learning more about the program, contact info@kalamazoodefender.org. This initiative represents a significant step toward transparency and equity in the justice system, empowering the community to hold it accountable.
I for one, am excited. This is the accountability and transparency Michiganders have been waiting, and sometimes getting punished for.
For more information, visit the original article: Is justice actually blind? We’ll see.
