The IRCC Legal Observer Team - At Your Service!

Indivisible Resisters Contra Costa (IRCC) offers legal observing as a service to other groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whenever a group believes police, federal agents, or other law enforcement will be present at one of their public actions, organizers may ask for legal observer support. The IRCC Legal Observer Team can mobilize quickly (usually within a week and in some cases within 24 hours) to attend local actions led by other groups (not IRCC).

What are Legal Observers and what do they do?

Legal observing involves a team of neutral, impartial volunteers silently observing and documenting state tactics at public actions. For instance, legal observers witness and document police interaction with protestors and counter–protestors and document any arrests that occur. The IRCC Legal Observer Program works in coordination with a Supervising Attorney and all of the notes, photos, videos and other documentation produced by the team is attorney work product. It may be used as evidence in legal proceedings to support members of the public when acting as either defendants or plaintiffs versus the state.  

The Goal of Legal Observing

The goal of legal observing is to ensure that the public’s constitutional rights are respected and protected. For instance, legal observers witness and document any violations by law enforcement of the public’s rights to free speech and free assembly.

What Legal Observers do NOT do

The IRCC Legal Observer Team does not offer peace-keeping or de-escalation services. The Team is not Immigration Legal Rapid Response and does not connect the public with legal support. The Team is not a rapid response “ICE Watch” group.

The Value of Legal Observers at a Public Action

The Legal Observer Team is a group of non-participants who are trained witnesses who help ensure that the public’s rights are not unlawfully interfered with. The presence of a Legal Observer team can act as a deterrent for law enforcement to reduce violations of constitutional rights simply by showing law enforcement that trained observers are witnessing their conduct.  If law enforcement violates constitutional rights, the Legal Observer team is ready to collect and preserve evidence for use in future legal proceedings in support of the public based on these violations.

Request Legal Observers for your Action

Write to the Legal Observer Team Coordinator at indivisibleresisters@gmail.com

Join the Team! Become a Legal Observer

Complete this form if you are interested and want to learn more: Legal Observer Interest Form.

Legal Observer Information Form & Confidentiality Agreement. These documents are mandatory for all Legal Observers.

Please complete, sign, scan, and email to indivisibleresisters@gmail.com.

Legal Observer Training Manual. Please read this manual and email the Legal Observer Team Coordinator with any questions at indivisibleresisters@gmail.com.