| Q: Can a witnesss testimony be videotaped instead of physically appearing in court? |
| Q: How long will I be at court as a witness? |
| Q: How do I get a copy of the police report? |
| Q: How can I get my property returned in a criminal case? |
| Q: If I am a victim, do I need to hire an attorney to represent me in court? |
| Q: What will happen if a witness refuses to testify? |
| Q: If I am a victim of a violent crime, what services are available to me? |
| Q: I was the victim of a crime. Can you tell me the name of the defendant and the defendants next court date? |
| Q: I have been subpoenaed by the DA to appear as a witness in a criminal case. Will I be paid witness fees? |
| Q: What if I cant attend court on the date stated in the subpoena? |
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| Q: Can a witnesss testimony be videotaped instead of physically appearing in court? |
| A: Generally, no. The defendant in a criminal case has a constitutional right to confront and cross-examine witnesses testifying against him or her in person. In rare circumstances, child witnesses may be able to testify via closed-circuit television. |
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| Q: How long will I be at court as a witness? |
| A: Your courtroom time, while actually testifying, may not take long; it depends upon many factors. The majority of your time at court will be spent waiting to testify. You and your family and friends are encouraged to bring a book or magazine to read while you wait. |
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| Q: How do I get a copy of the police report? |
| A: In general, the District Attorneys Office will not release police reports to the public. Reports may be obtained through the appropriate law enforcement agency. |
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| Q: How can I get my property returned in a criminal case? |
| A: If you are a victim of a crime, contact the police department that handled the case once the case is resolved. If the police department receives clearance from the District Attorneys Office to return your property, it will be returned to you. In certain cases where an appeal is filed by the defendant, property cannot be released until at least 60 days have passed since the resolution of the case. Please contact the District Attorney branch office in the judicial district where the crime occurred for further information. If you are a defendant, please contact your attorney so he or she can facilitate the return of your property. We do not authorize the release of firearms or other contraband to defendants after conviction. |
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| Q: If I am a victim, do I need to hire an attorney to represent me in court? |
| A: You will not need to hire an attorney unless you are seeking to sue the defendant civilly or are seeking damages or other orders outside the jurisdiction of the criminal courts. The District Attorneys Office prosecutes crimes on behalf of the State of California and the public at large. |
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| Q: What will happen if a witness refuses to testify? |
| A: Unless a witness can exercise a certain privilege, the witness will be compelled by the court to testify. If a witness refuses the courts order to testify, the court can impose sanctions on the witness including fines and/or custody time. |
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| Q: If I am a victim of a violent crime, what services are available to me? |
| A: The Victim/Witness Assistance Program offers a variety of services to victims of crime. You may also contact the Victims of Crime Compensation Program (800) 777-9229. |
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| Q: I was the victim of a crime. Can you tell me the name of the defendant and the defendants next court date? |
| A: The DAs Office can provide you with the name of the adult defendant and the next court date if we have received the police reports and filed charges against the defendant. To obtain this information, call the DAs branch office located in the judicial district where the crime occurred. The DAs office is legally unable to disclose information on most juvenile defendants. To obtain a listing of locations, please see our Resourcs link. |
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| Q: I have been subpoenaed by the DA to appear as a witness in a criminal case. Will I be paid witness fees? |
A: Whether a witness receives any witness fee is at the discretion of the court. A court may order that you receive witness fees (not to exceed $12 to $18 per day) plus reasonable and necessary expenses after testifying. Most people consider, it is the civic duty of all citizens to come to court and testify when subpoenaed as a witness to ensure a fair justice system.
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| Q: What if I cant attend court on the date stated in the subpoena? |
A: If you have a conflict with the date on the subpoena, contact the deputy district attorney handling the case or Witness Services before the appearance date and discuss your conflict. The Witness Services telephone number will be on the subpoena. In some cases, the deputy district attorney handling the case can put you on call so that you can go to work or school on the day you are subpoenaed. You will be called at a pre-arranged telephone number an hour or so before you are needed in court.
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