My Day in Court

Some time ago, you told a police officer about something that happened to you OR about a crime you saw or heard. You may have testified and told a judge what happened OR perhaps you did not have to go to Court. However it ended, now that the court case is over, we are looking for your thoughts and opinions on what it was like to be a court witness.

Your feedback and your suggestions help us at the Child Witness Project make it easier for other kids who are called to Court.

Here are some important things to know...

we don't know who you are so your responses are anonymous and confidential
if you have any questions about this form or why we are asking for feedback, contact Dawn Lashbrook or Pamela Hurley
this form is also available in French / cette feuille de commentaires est également disponible en français

Before we begin, please tell us in what city or town you went to court?

1. When you told the police what happened, did they video record you when you made your statement?

Yes
No
Don't know

2. While you were waiting for your Court date, did anyone help you learn about Court? Maybe more than one type of person helped you so check off any of these answers that apply to you.

A person from Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
A person from a Court Preparation Program that specializes in children and teenagers
No one helped me
Another type of person helped me

If another type of person helped you, what type of person were they (e.g., police officer, teacher)?

3. These are some ways young people learn about being a Court witness. Did you use any of these and, if so, were they helpful?

a) Court Preparation appointments	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
b) Book or books	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
c) Information pamphlets or brochures	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
d) Cory's Website or other site	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
e) Video	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
f) TV programs about Court	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
g) Internet and/or my own research	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
h) Talking to my friends	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
i) Tour of the Courthouse	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use
j) Other?	helped me	didn't help me	didn't use

If you had other ways to learn about court, can you please tell us what they were?

4. Which of these was most helpful?

5. Thinking about the people who work in the court system, did you get enough help learning about Court?

I got lots of help
I needed more help
I got no help
I didn't need any help

6. What could we have done better to help you?

7. Were you worried about going to Court?

Not worried
A little worried
Very worried

8. What worried you most?

9. Did someone help you with that?

Yes
No

If someone helped you with your worries, who were they and how did they help you?

10. Did you visit the Courthouse before the Court date?

Yes
No
Don't know

11. Did you meet the Crown Attorney before the Court date?

Yes
No
Don't know

These next questions are about testifying. If you never testified or never talked to a judge, skip ahead to Question 18.

12. Did you testify at:

Preliminary hearing
Trial
Both a preliminary hearing and at trial
I'm not sure

13. Did somebody sit or stand with you while you talked to the judge?

Yes
No

What would you tell other kids your age about having a support person?

14. Did you ever use closed circuit TV (CCTV) while you talked to the judge?

Once
Twice
Never
I'm not sure

What would you tell other kids your age about using closed circuit TV to testify?

15. Did you ever use a screen while you talked to the judge?

Once
Twice
Never
I'm not sure

What would you tell other kids about using a screen to testify?

16. When you testified, were you able to say everything about what happened?

Yes
No

If no, tell us why:

I was too scared
It was too embarrassing
No one asked me the right questions
I forgot to say some parts

Were there any other reasons?

17. How can we make it easier for young witnesses to say everything to the Judge?

After Court

18. What was the easiest thing about being a witness in Court?

19. What was the hardest thing about being a witness in Court?

20. What should we know to help other kids who have to go to Court?

21. Would any of these things have helped you?

More preparation sessions
Yes No, I didn't need this

Use language kids understand
Yes No, I didn't need this

Finish the case faster
Yes No, I didn't need this

If people explained things better
Yes No, I didn't need this

A language interpreter
Yes No, I didn't need this

22. Anything else you'd like to say?

Thank you for taking the time to tell us your opinions. To send this information to us anonymously, click on the "submit" button.