Houston Court Watch
The University of Houston-Downtown and the
Harris County Public Defender's Office proudly announce the launch of the
Houston Court Watch Program. Houston Court Watch is an innovative new project that will empower students like
you to uphold our democracy by monitoring local criminal courtrooms. The Sixth Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the public the right to observe our courts as
the ultimate safeguard for justice and fairness. Unfortunately, many people are not
aware of this constitutional right or have not had an opportunity to exercise it.
As a Houston Court Watcher, you will receive training and support to see court happenings
with open eyes to achieve the high calling of true civic engagement. Upon completion
of training, you will be asked to watch court proceedings for a total of 8 hours (including
at least a one-time, in-person, visit to the Joint Processing Center at 700 North
San Jacinto Street (a block away from UHD). At the end of the program, you will receive
an official Houston Court Watcher certificate from the Houston Laboratory for Crime and Justice in UHD’s Center for Public Service and Community Research (CPSCR).
yangf@uhd.edu. Once we receive your email, we will reach out to you with further instructions.
If you are interested in learning more about the program and becoming a Houston Court Watcher, please email