Kentucky Churches Press Courts For Tough Drug Sentences

The AP reported Friday on a program in eastern Kentucky known a Church Watch. Christian churches enlist volunteers to monitor court hearings in drug-related cases to see whether officers are showing up to testify and judges are handing out severe enough sentences. The group complains to law enforcement or courts if they believe that courts are not doing the right thing. They also collect data in order to track trends in drug crimes. Clay County (KY) judges say that Court Watch observers are welcome in their courtrooms.