Court Watch 2023 Yearly Protective Order Outcomes Report
In 2023, nearly 25,000 domestic violence final protective order hearings were held in Maryland courts, including almost 3,000 in Montgomery County (Maryland Courts, 2023). Protective orders were granted in less than half of these hearings, with the rest denied or dismissed. This data suggests that some victims may not be getting the full protections needed, including the mandatory protection against gun possession by their abuser. Protective orders are vital tools for reducing or stopping domestic violence when paired with a strong safety plan and proper enforcement.
New video on local domestic violence prevention
A new 15-minute video on domestic violence prevention has been produced by Montgomery County. Two victims (a teenager victim of same sex abuse and a middle-aged woman) each describe their abusive relationship and how they escaped. The video also highlights work being done by the Sheriff, Family Justice Center, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Court Watch […]
Samantha Bee uses our data on domestic violence and guns
Samantha Bee took a hard look last night at domestic violence and guns – and she used Court Watch’s data in our “Abusers with Guns” study to highlight the critical role judges play. We’re about 3 min, 50 seconds in. Samantha Bee used Court Watch data showing that 126 abusers convicted of assault in criminal […]
New outreach campaign to victims
A new County outreach campaign to victims in Montgomery County Maryland is placing large signs on buses and in bus shelters reaching out to anyone suffering from domestic violence. The ads ask “Are you afraid of your partner?” Ads are in both English and Spanish and share emergency crisis phone numbers. County Executive Leggett as […]
Court Watch volunteers win Montgomery Serves Award
Lots of Court Watch volunteers turned out for Montgomery Serves awards night, where County Executive Ike Leggett and Council member Craig Rice presented them with the Volunteer Group of the Year Award. Rice used the occasion to stress the importance of full funding for the monitored exchange and safe visitation center. Court Watch started with […]
Many groups testify for Monitored Child Exchange & Supervised Visitation Center
Advocates for domestic violence victims and their children have been coming out in force to push for full funding of our first County-run monitored child exchange and supervised visitation center for domestic violence victims and their children. Today a host of organizations testified as part of the Montgomery County Council’s public hearings on the FY18 budget. […]
Court Watch volunteers win big!
Court Watch Montgomery’s 70 volunteers are the proud winners of the Montgomery Serves Community Service Award for 2017! The award honors some of the County’s most devoted and effective volunteers. Court Watch volunteers spent more than 8,000 hours reducing domestic violence by improving how courts handle domestic violence cases. Volunteers collected detailed information on over […]
Court volunteers discuss domestic violence with judges
This week 18 court volunteers spent over an hour discussing the protective order and domestic violence criminal dockets with District Court Administrative Judge Eugene Wolfe, and Judges Mitchell, Moffett, Williams and Sabett. It was a valuable opportunity to more fully understand the court’s approach to domestic violence cases and to share Court Watch’s concerns about […]
Progress on safe child exchange services
Survivors of domestic violence need safe places they can go to transfer their children for visits with the other parent without experiencing fear or injury. Court Watch leaders had a good meeting today with County Councilmember George Leventhal, Sheriff Popkin, Uma Ahluwalia (Director of DHSS) and their staffs. We discussed the urgent need for safe exchange […]
See WTOP story on new Court Watch study
WTOP did a great story this morning on our new report, “Small actions, big impacts“. In it, we take a careful look at steps District Court judges, bailiffs, interpreters and clerks take that help victims and their children stay safe. “One judge doesn’t get to hear what the other judges are doing, so this is a great way […]