Trials/Charges/Courts - Writers Forum

fataldelivery · 02-02-2005, 09:07 PM

a story i am planning deals with a court scene, as well as charging and arresting of the suspect, it is going to be told from the view of the victim, so a teenaged girl, so i dont need that specific of details... i do need (however) information on how involved the victim would be with the trial leading up to it, and how the proceedings would go in the court room.. thanks in advance for the help

--cait

mammamaia · 02-03-2005, 08:34 AM

the victim would be involved in the trial only a week or two before it begins, as the prosecutor walks her through the procedure and preps her for her testimony... this could involve some time spent in the empty courtroom to get her used to being on the witness stand and know what to expect...

an ass't or the prosecutor her/himself will play the part of the defense attorney and ask the toughest questions to prepare her for the worst and tell her how to respond and how to withstand the verbal assaults and insinuations that will most likely be aimed her way...

this is a vital part of pre-trial preparations, since a witness who falls apart on the stand and can be made to change her testimony or be less sure of it by a clever and manipulative defense attorney can well lose the case for the prosecution...

until that point, the victim is mainly involved with the police as they investigate the case and bring it to where the courts take over...

in many places, a member of the district attorney's office will follow the case from the git-go, to make sure nothing is done [or left undone] that will jeopardize the state's case... watch episodes of law & order for a pretty accurate view of the entire process...

since your vic is a minor, her parent/s would be involved throughout...

fataldelivery · 02-03-2005, 02:28 PM

is there a website or a group where i can go to get more information in this?

mammamaia · 02-04-2005, 07:07 AM

i'm sure there are many... google for 'em... m