How does Court work?

1 You tell someone about what happened to you or what you saw happen to someone else

2 You make a video or written statement to the Police

3 The Police find out about the case and talk to the person you have told them about

4 The Police charge the person you have told them about and the case is sent to the court

If the person admits to breaking the law the case will go straight to sentencing (step 12). Otherwise it goes to trial or defended hearing (Step 8).

5 Pre-trial Hearings and Depositions
These happen at the court. (Usually kids don’t go to these)

6 The Police talk to you about how you are going to give your evidence (the mode of evidence)

7 The Victim Adviser tells you all about going to court

8 TRIAL or DEFENDED HEARING

Where everyone tells their piece of the story. Where you will go as a witness

9 VERDICT

10 NOT GUILTY Verdict

11 GUILTY Verdict

12 Sentencing When the judge decides the punishment – a few weeks after the trial

13 Victim Adviser explains about the verdict and you can talk to them about how you feel about what happened at Court