We need your help, neighbors.
Currently, AHCA member Mike Kovac along with three “sometimes available” members are the only Court Advocates from Archer Heights, and with a membership of 800 addresses, we obviously are underrepresented as a community.
Being a Court Advocate is very simple—just be present in the court room to show community solidarity with the victims of crime.
Judges and the prosecutors love the fact that the community shows up, and in most cases due to the presence of the Advocates, the judges hand out the maximum sentences provided by law. But the big thing is, if nobody shows up, the judge has little choice but to release the criminal with a slap on the hand. People then wonder why criminals get away with things.
The Benefits of Being a Court Advocate
If you don’t drive or do not want to take public transportation, but want to volunteer to become a Court Advocate, you don’t have to worry, as Mike goes to almost every hearing and will take you to court and bring you back home. Schedules are very flexible, so this is a great opportunity for seniors who have time on their hands or college students looking to get practical experience in preparation for a job in the real world.
Seniors, in the past those who went Downtown to court or zoning hearings often made a day of it and went to lunch at a nice restaurant and sometimes did a little shopping. Of course they were on their own to get home. Don’t want to go Downtown, no problem, as cases are also heard at the Criminal Courts Building – 26th & California.
College students or recent grads searching for a job, think of what “8th District Court Advocate” would look like as a talking point on your resume. Most employers look for well- rounded individuals who are actively involved in a community group or organization. Here’s your chance!
So if anyone is interested in becoming a Court Advocate, please call our civic office at 773-843-2232 and leave your name and phone number, use the “Contact Us” form at our web site, or come to our September meeting and see Mike Kovac.
What is Court Advocacy?
It is a tool in Chicago’s Alternative Policing Strategy though which neighbors and community leaders, working with the police, identify and track court cases and attend court sessions. Participants accompany victims of crime to court, or attend trials that are important to the safety of the community.
Why bother?
Attendance at court shows support for the police, the victims and witnesses of crime and lets everyone involved in the judicial process know, especially the judges, that the community is concerned about the outcome of the case. It sends a very 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?
Each police district has a Court Advocacy Subcommittee that tracks court cases. The types of cases followed will depend upon the concerns of the community members. Some districts may wish to follow cases of robberies, rapes, drive–by shootings etc. Other districts may wish to concentrate on graffiti, abandoned buildings, or selling liquor to minors.
What do you have to do?
When the case you are interested in is called, as many people from the beat or district as possible will attend the session. For the program to succeed, it needs volunteers to attend court sessions. This doesn’t necessarily require a lot of time. It could be as little as a few hours two or three times a year.
Portions of this content were taken from a handout provided by Mike Kovac at the monthly 8th District CAPS meetings.