victims of crime and prosecution witnesses
attending court
Victims of crime and other prosecution witnesses will generally be contacted
by the police if they are required to attend court as a witness.
Case lists
give details of the charges against the accused, the court in which the case is to be heard, the time at which it is due to start, and the judge or magistrate hearing the case.The case lists for each day are listed on the Courts Administration Authority website from approximately 4.45pm on the day prior. Case lists are also available in The Advertiser and in individual courts on the day(s) the case is being heard.
To access the case for which you are required to attend court, you will need to know the court in which the case is being heard, and the name of the accused to find out further information. Search under court (criminal), and then the accused’s name.
For the
Youth Court and other suppressed cases, the accused’s initials only will appear on the case lists. A copy of the case list will be available in the court you are attending.For the
Coroner’s Court, the inquest details will appear on the case list. A copy of the case list will be available in the court you are attending.For more information about case lists contact the relevant
Listings Registry.It
might be useful to have a look at the virtual tours
prior to attending court.
For
information about attending court as a victim of crime or other prosecution
witness refer to going to
court as a witness.
The
Victim Support Service
or the Witness
Assistance Service (for cases being prosecuted by the Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions) can assist in preparing you for court. They can
explain the court processes and show you around the court if necessary.
The
South
Australian Victims of Crime Co-ordinator website offers some useful
information for victims of crime and prosecution witnesses regarding how to deal
with the media. Information / assistance specific to homicide is available on
the Witness
Assistance Service website within the publication, Unlocking the Homicide Maze.
Disabled
Access / Other Special Needs
Courts
in South Australia are able to accommodate access and other special needs (for
example, hearing or visually impaired) of victims of crime and prosecution
witnesses who are required to appear in court. Victims of crime wanting to
attend court, without being required to appear as a witness, might also be
accommodated. Requests to accommodate special needs of victims of crime /
prosecution witnesses will need to be made in
advance.
For
further information or assistance refer to the prosecutor assigned to the case
for which you are attending court at the relevant Court Registry.
Victims of crime and prosecution witnesses may be entitled to compensation and travel expenses for attending court to give evidence. If you are a witness for the prosecution in a criminal trial, you are entitled to claim witness fees. You can claim for loss of wages for attending court and for travelling expenses. The
Sheriff’s Office will help you to fill out a claim form.Victim Impact Statements provide victims of crime the opportunity to inform the court of any injury, loss or damage that resulted on themselves and their families from the victimisation.
This information can include physical, emotional and financial injuries, losses or damage. There is some information that should not be included in a Victim Impact Statement (for example, suggesting sentences to the judge).
The Victim Impact Statement Information Booklet (including form) can be obtained on the
South Australian Victims of Crime Co-ordinator website, or by contacting Victim Support Service.In most courts victims of crime and prosecution witnesses can access a private waiting area. Access to the private waiting area will need to be arranged in advance to check that it is available. To arrange a private waiting area contact the court in which your case will be heard.
For further information or assistance refer to the relevant Court Registry.
If you are concerned about your personal safety when attending court, including the limits of your restraining order, contact Victim Support Service or consult with the Sheriff’s Office in the court you will be attending.
Applications for vulnerable witness provisions must be made to a magistrate or judge through a prosecutor. The magistrate or judge has the discretion to make, revoke, vary or deny the use of vulnerable witness provisions.
The range of special provisions which might be available for victims of crime and other prosecution witnesses includes the use of closed circuit television, a screen, court companion, and closed court. To qualify for vulnerable witness provisions, victims of crime and other prosecution witnesses must fall into one of the following categories:
- Under 16 years of age;
- Has an intellectual disability;
- Victim of an alleged sexual offence; or
- At some special disadvantage.
For more information about vulnerable witness provisions refer to protection of witnesses or contact the Sheriff’s Office. To apply for vulnerable witness provisions, you must speak to the prosecutor assigned to the case for which you are appearing in court.
Victim Support Service
can arrange for a court companion to accompany victims of crime to metropolitan or most regional courts. For more information, or to arrange (with advance notice) a court companion, contact Victim Support Service.[last updated 08 July 2010 ]
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