Helping Ourselves to Transform
Letter Writing Project on Bond Hearings
This Letter Writing Project helps to fight injustices in bond hearings through advocacy.
Posted March 17, 2025
Background & Context
The Accountability Committee was established in 2020 to combat systemic injustices within the legal system. Since its inception, the Committee has issued approximately 645 advocacy letters to key stakeholders, including judges, defense attorneys, ASA prosecutors, police departments, elected officials in the Maryland Judiciary, House of Delegates, and Senate, as well as the Upper Marlboro Jail and county council members.
Immediate Problem
These letters have addressed unlawful detentions, judicial misconduct, police overreach, and inadequate medical and mental health care in detention facilities. Through ongoing advocacy, the Committee remains committed to advancing fairer pretrial practices and fostering a more just and accountable legal system in Maryland.
Work & Deliverables
The Courtwatch PG Accountability Committee meets biweekly to review flagged bond hearings for injustices, including judicial misconduct, unlawful police stops, barriers to due process, and unconstitutional pretrial detention. When consensus is reached, committee members draft advocacy letters to challenge these violations.
Through this project, law students gain real - legal experience, analyzing hearings and holding everyone in the room accountable. This initiative enhances community oversight, ensures fairer pretrial detention decisions, and strengthens legal writing and policy skills. Ultimately, students contribute to criminal justice reform while preparing for impactful legal careers.
Preparation Phase
- We meet every other Monday at 5:30pm by zoom to talk about court hearings for the past 2 weeks.
Collaboration Phase
- We all do a letter or 2 and we all review each letter before they are mailed or emailed out.
Wrap Up
Helping Ourselves to Transform
We are a 501c(3) women of color-led nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities that are socially impacted through education, advocacy, and sustainable solutions. We promote civic engagement and strengthen democracy by empowering individuals to actively participate in their communities and advocate for positive change. We work tirelessly to foster informed, inclusive, and equitable civic participation that amplifies the voices of all citizens, leading to a more just and prosperous society for everyone. We are committed to fostering positive change, addressing pressing social challenges, and creating a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Helping Ourselves to Transform
We are a 501c(3) women of color-led nonprofit organization. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities that are socially impacted through education, advocacy, and sustainable solutions. We promote civic engagement and strengthen democracy by empowering individuals to actively participate in their communities and advocate for positive change. We work tirelessly to foster informed, inclusive, and equitable civic participation that amplifies the voices of all citizens, leading to a more just and prosperous society for everyone. We are committed to fostering positive change, addressing pressing social challenges, and creating a brighter, more equitable future for all.