Going to Court – Information for all witness and victims going to court

Going to court as a witness

Attending court as a witness can be a worrying experience. This leaflet tells you how to get helpful information and support. The Witness Service exists to help people through the judicial process by providing practical and emotional support.

The Witness Service can help you

“They told me how the system worked and how I fitted in”

“They took time to explain what was going to happen and who was who. They also told me what might not happen”

“They arranged for me to see round a court before the trial and it really helped”

“Most of all they were there for me and maybe the trail was over but they understood that it wasn’t over for me”

Support outside the court arena

The Witness Service is run by victim Support Scotland, the national voluntary organisation providing emotional support, practical assistance and information to crime victims via a network of community based services throughout Scotland. Staff and volunteers from the Witness Service will be happy to give details of your local Victim Support area service.

Witness Service

The facility is set up in the court building and is confidential, and provided by trained volunteers. The service is free and available to ALL witness attending court regardless of age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability or social class.

The service will support:

• victims and witnesses who are called to court
• victims and witnesses who are not called to court
• families and friends of victims and witnesses

The Witness Service offers:

• A court based service
• Practical help, e.g. with expense forms
• Information on court procedures
• A pre-court visit
• To listen to concerns/anxieties
• Emotional support
• To be available after giving of evidence
• To put you in touch with people who can answer specific questions about your case
• To provide guidance regarding further support from other agencies if required
• Someone to talk to in confidence
• Trained volunteers to help you during your time at court

The Witness Service does not:

• Ever discuss evidence
• Provide nursing care
• Provide babysitting facilities
• Provide taxi facilities

If you are attending court, you may find it helpful to bring:

• a friend or relative (it is best to give notice in advance that you are bringing someone with you
• any information you have regarding the case, e.g. the name of the police officer dealing with the case
• the citation, if you have received one
• something to read or do as there may be delays to the case and you may have to wait a long time
• money for your lunch, refreshments, bus fare home, car parking etc

If you are called to court as a witness you can claim your expenses, such as:

• travel to and from court
• essential child care
• loss of earnings

The witness service can provide more information and assistance in claiming expenses.

Tell us what you think….

The Witness Service has a code of practice and is committed to providing a high quality of service. We welcome feedback from service users.

The Witness service can arrange a translation service if you are a non English speaker