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Victim Witness Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

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  1. Once the case is filed with our office, a victim/witness specialist will be assigned to you. Their job is to help you understand what is happening in the case and to connect you with resources in the community to support you during this time. Victim/witness specialists are required to inform you about important events at various stages of the court process. Specialists assigned to cases communicate with victims in different ways: in person, by phone, or through mail/email.

  2. As a victim of a Victim Rights Act (VRA) crime, you have rights under the constitution of the state of Colorado. "Critical stage" court events are events which VRA victims have a right to be notified and/or heard. Our office will notify you of all critical stages of the criminal justice process. If you would like additional information about which court events are considered "critical stages" in the criminal justice process, please contact the victim/Witness Division for assistance.

  3. The first floor of the Justice Center has a security station. Officers are present to keep you safe. Once you go through security you will make your way to the appropriate courtroom or to the District Attorney's Office on the second floor.

    On the first floor of the Justice Center, there's a security station where officers are there to keep you safe. After going through security, you'll head to the right courtroom or to the District Attorney's Office on the second floor.

    The way people talk and act in court is different from everyday conversations. Court proceedings are open to the public unless the judge says otherwise. But not all court events happen in the courtroom. The staff from the District Attorney's Office and your victim/witness specialist will be there to answer your questions and help you understand what's going on in court. If you want someone to go with you to a scheduled court event, just call your victim/witness specialist before the event to make plans.

  4. Oftentimes, cases move through a number of stages before a disposition is reached, and this can take time. For a clearer understanding of how a case progresses through the criminal justice system, check out the felony case flow chart or misdemeanor case flow chart.

  5. The District Attorney's Office will help you or your child get ready to testify, if needed. Many cases are resolved through a plea agreement, so you might not have to testify in court. But if a case goes to trial, you'll need to testify. Sometimes, when a child needs to testify but is very young or has difficulty, there may be a way to use a video of their interview instead. Usually, the prosecutor and victim/witness specialist will work with you, your child, and/or your parents or guardians to prepare for the trial.

    If you're told to testify in court, you'll go to the witness stand, get sworn in, and then sit down. The witness stand is close to where the judge sits and across from where the jury sits during a jury trial. The defendant and their lawyer(s) sit at a table nearby. You don't have to look at the defendant, but they will be there during your testimony. The defendant can't contact you in any way, and they're not allowed to intimidate you. If you feel intimidated by the defendant, please tell the victim/witness specialist or the prosecutor. You can see a diagram of a typical courtroom layout here. Here are some things to remember when testifying:

    • Be honest – Just tell the facts as you know them, in a simple and clear way. Don't guess or speculate, even if you think you should know the answer. If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be explained.
    • Only answer the question asked – The District Attorney will ask you a series of questions, many of which you can answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Don't try to say everything at once or give extra information. It's okay to say "I don't know" if you don't know the answer.
    • Stay calm and polite – Take your time and think before you respond. Being polite makes a good impression on the court and the jury. Wait until a question is finished before you answer. Don't try to outsmart the people asking you questions or get angry because it might make your testimony less effective.

    If you are subpoenaed to testify in court you will take the witness stand, be sworn in, and sit down. The witness stand is located in an area near the bench, which is where the judge sits, and across from the jury box, where a jury sits in the case of a jury trial. The defendant and his/her attorney(s) sit at a table nearby. You do not need to look at the defendant but he or she will be present throughout your testimony. A defendant is not allowed to make any sort of contact with you, verbally or through facial expressions, and is not permitted to intimidate you in any way. If you feel as though you are being intimidated by the defendant, please tell the victim/witness specialist or the prosecutor. See a diagram of a generic courtroom layout. Things to remember when testifying:

    • Be truthful – Just tell the facts as you know them, simply and concisely. Don't guess or speculate about an answer, even if you think you should know the answer. If you don't understand a question, ask that it be explained.
    • Answer only the question asked – The DA will guide you through a sequence of questions, many of which can simply be answered "yes" or "no." Do not try to say everything at once or volunteer information. It is alright to say "I don't know" to a question.
    • Remain calm and courteous – Slow down and think before you respond. Being courteous makes a good impression on the court and jury. Wait until a question is finished before answering. Don't try to outwit your questioners or lose your temper because it may diminish the impact of your testimony.

  6. The defense has the right to get in touch with you to help with their investigation. You also have the right to talk to the defense, but you don't have to if you don't want to. If you have any questions or worries, please get in touch with the victim/witness specialist assigned to your case.

  7. It's possible that before the trial starts, the defendant and their lawyer might decide to enter a plea, or the case might be postponed. The district attorney provides two ways to check the status of your subpoena. You can check online anytime before the trial by entering your subpoena identification number (sid). Or you can call (970) 498-7280 during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday) to make sure you still need to appear for trial. Checking your subpoena status using either of these methods will give you the most up-to-date information. Changes in the status of your subpoena could happen even just minutes before you're supposed to appear. Calling may save you a trip to the Justice Center.

  8. If you have been subpoenaed by the prosecution on a felony case, victim/witness staff will coordinate with you to make and purchase travel arrangements such as lodging, airfare, shuttle or similar assistance. You will be contacted directly by the witness coordinator closer to the court date. This will provide a much better chance the travel will actually be needed since dates do change frequently.

    If you have questions, please call the witness coordinator at (970) 498-7280 during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday).

  9. Most convictions come from a plea agreement. A plea agreement happens when the prosecutor and the defendant negotiate. Once they agree, the plea deal is shown to the judge for approval. In a plea agreement, the defendant gets something in return for pleading guilty, like having the charges reduced or getting a lesser punishment, instead of going to trial.

  10. Much of the parking closest to the Justice Center in Fort Collins is in areas subject to time limits or parking fees. There is a parking structure on the southwest corner of LaPorte and Mason parking which is directly across the street from the Justice Center. The first hour is free, and then it is $1.00 for each additional hour. See downtown parking map

    The parking lot at the Loveland Police and Courts building offers free parking for court events in Loveland.