COURT WATCHING IS A COMMUNITY PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES USING TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO COLLECT DATA ON THE COURTS AND RECOMMEND AREAS OF IMPORVEMENT. THE ILLINOIS COURT WATCH PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO MONITOR COURTS IN PILOT PROJECTS IN FOUR ILLINOIS COUNTIES. MISDEMEANOR COURTS WERE CHOSEN AS THE TARGET OF THE FIRST YEAR'S PROJECT THIS HANDBOOK PROVIDES INFORMATION WHICH COULD BE OF VALUE TO VOLUNTEER COURT WATCHERS. AMONG THE AREAS COVERED ARE THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF ILLINOIS COURTS; JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND THEIR ROLES; THE CRIMINAL LAWS ON MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES; TYPES OF MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES; PROCEDURES USED IN PROSECUTING MISDEMEANORS; STANDARDS FOR COURT FACILITIES AND SERVICES; AND STANDARDS OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT. ISSUES INVOLVING POOR COURT FACILITIES, DECRIMINALIZATION OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES, PLEA BARGAINING, AND TREATMENT OF DEFENDANTS ARE OUTLINED. GENERAL PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR COURT WATCHERS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL.