Will I have to testify?

You may be required to testify. If you are required to come to court, you will receive a subpoena. The deputy prosecuting attorney and/or victim advocate may speak with you about testifying in court. The best thing to do is to tell the truth.

Will my child have to testify?

If there is a trial, your child may have to testify in court. While this can be stressful, keep in mind that it is often a very positive experience for a child to be heard and believed by a judge. The best thing to do is to encourage your child to tell the truth and to know that the courtroom is a safe place. You may set a time with the victim advocate or deputy prosecuting attorney to tour the courtroom prior to any appearance.

What if I am contacted by the respondent's attorney or an investigator?

Victims and witnesses may be contacted by a defense attorney or investigator for the respondent. The respondent's attorney has the right to interview victims/witnesses. However victims/witnesses have the right to have a deputy prosecuting attorney and/or victim advocate present during any interviews. If you are contacted by defense for an interview, you will need to let them know your desire to have someone from our office present. The defense attorney/investigator will then contact our office to coordinate a time for the interview to take place.

Will I get paid for my time off work?

You will receive a small witness reimbursement fee and mileage for appearing as a witness if you are subpoenaed. The law sets the amount of the witness fee and mileage and there is no provision to compensate for loss of wages. You may want to check with your employer to find out what the policy is regarding payment during your court appearance.

Why does my case keep getting continued?

Cases are continued (set over) because of the difficulty in coordinating courtroom space, attorney and witness availability, availability of judges, as well as time needed to complete investigations and to obtain the results of forensic testing. Unfortunately, delays cannot always be anticipated and can be a frustrating part of the process.

I'll be bringing my children to court. What can I do about childcare?

There is no childcare available at Remann Hall. Although children are not prohibited from entering the courtroom, parents are asked to maintain control of their children at all times. If children become loud or disruptive, a parent may be asked to leave the courtroom.