What is Court Advocacy?
A tool in Chicago’s Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) through which neighbors and community members, working with the police, identify and track court cases and attend court. Participants accompany crime victims to court or attend trials that are important to the safety and well being of the community.

Why Bother?
Attendance at court shows support for the police, victims and witnesses of crime, and lets everyone involved in the judicial process know that the community is concerned about the outcome of the case. It sends a strong message to the judges, prosecutors and the accused. By these efforts, neighborhood residents and other stakeholders can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the criminal justice system for the entire community.

How Do You Get Involved?
The best way to stay abreast of court cases that might have an impact on your community is to attend community BEAT meetings. Each police district has a Court Advocacy subcommittee that tracks court cases. The type of cases followed will depend on the concerns of the community. Some districts may follow felony cases such as robberies, burglaries, or rape while other districts may follow chronic offenders that may only be charged with misdemeanor crimes. Still others may follow cases of taverns selling liquor to underage drinkers.

What Do You Have To Do?
For the program to succeed, it need volunteers to attend court cases. It could be as little as a few hours two or three times a year to as much as weekly. It all depends on how involved you want to become. Because court cases are usually conducted during business hours, it may be necessary to take time off from work to attend the hearings.

What Are The Benefits?
Experience has shown that participation in court by community residents can have an impact in obtaining stiffer sentences and sending a message to defendants that this is a neighborhood that gets tough on criminals and the crimes they commit.

For more information about the ECC Court Advocacy program and upcoming cases please contact Aida Kulasic.