Preparing for court - what you have to do
In many cases, the person accused of committing a crime pleads guilty so there is no need for witnesses to come to court to give their evidence. If the accused person pleads not guilty, there may be a trial and the court needs to hear evidence from witnesses like you.
Similarly in many children's hearing court cases all the parties may agree the facts and the case is settled. Where this does not happen the court will need to hear the evidence.
The judge or sheriff needs witnesses to give their evidence by answering questions, so the court can build up a picture of what has happened. Without witnesses, the judge (or jury) will not know what has happened and will not be able to come to a full decision at the end of the case.
What if I am working?
To be a witness, you may need time off work. You should let your employer know in advance that you have been cited as a witness. If your employer is reluctant to give you time off work to attend court, you should tell the person who cited you to be a witness straight away. If you lose pay or earnings you can claim this money back from the procurator fiscal, reporter, or lawyer, depending on who cited you, although there is a limit to how much you can claim.
What if I need childcare?
Children are not allowed into courtrooms unless they are a witness. There are no childcare facilities within the court buildings. If you do not have your own babysitter or child minder, you can contact your council or local social work department for a list of all the registered childcare facilities in your area. You will be able to claim some of these expenses from the person who cited you.
What should I wear?
There is no particular uniform or style of clothes for a witness. You should wear clothes that you feel comfortable in.