TIPS FOR WITNESSES

It is natural to feel nervous about giving evidence. There are some things that you can do before coming to court to be better prepared:

  • before you come to court, you should read the statement you made to police about what happened (if applicable);
  • think about the events that you are giving evidence about. Try to remember the details of the incident like the times, dates, descriptions and actions;
  • if English is not your first language and you find it difficult to speak or understand English, please speak to the prosecutor or relevant lawyer prior to the commencement of the proceedings about having an interpreter;
  • if you have any special needs, such as a hearing difficulty, you should advise the prosecutor or relevant lawyer prior to the commencement of the proceedings (please also refer to Services for People with Disability for further information);
  • you can speak to the DPP Witness Assistance Service about taking a familiarisation tour of the court prior to the date you are giving evidence;
  • if you have concerns about seeing the defendant, speak to the police officer, witness assistant or the prosecutor about this.
  • Support throughout the court process for complainants (victims) is available through Victims Support ACT on 1800 8222 72 and the Director of Public Prosecutions on 6207 5399. Please contact these organisations for further information about the support available.