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1. I have been subpoenaed to come to court, what can I do with my children?

Courtroom proceedings can be long so try to find a neighbor, friend or relative to care for your children. There are no child care services provided by the court or the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

2. What do I do when I get to the courthouse?

After talking with the deputy prosecuting attorney handling the case, he or she will direct you to proceed to a particular area of the courthouse. In virtually all cases where you will be a witness, you will be instructed to wait outside the courtroom until it is time for you take the witness stand. Once having given your testimony, you will be requested to leave the courtroom. Unless you are specifically instructed otherwise, you should return to the waiting area outside the courtroom until the attorney excuses you

3. How long will I be in court?

It varies. You may be excused after only a few minutes, or you might be needed for more than a day. Most witnesses remain on the witness stand less than an hour. Feel free to call the Victim/Witness Assistance Division if you need to know how long you will be expected to be available to testify. A victim/witness counselor will obtain an estimate from the deputy prosecuting attorney. Ordinarily, you will only need to be in court during the time you need to testify. You do not need to be there during the entire trial. You may choose to remain at the courthouse during the trial but you will no be allowed to hear the other witnesses testify. You may return for the closing arguments and the reading of the jury's or judge's verdict.

4. What court handles misdemeanor domestic violence cases?

These cases are generally heard in Family Court.