There is nothing that prepares you for the courtroom experience. It’s probably like the birth experience – everyone does it differently and everyone’s experience is unique. Even if you talk with people who have experienced it, you may think, “Well, mine won’t be like that.” Be prepared for anything and everything.

Some things may be helpful. The victim/witness assistance office can provide you with an orientation about what to expect in the courtroom. They can show you a courtroom, although it may not be the one that your case will be tried in since the courtrooms are not assigned until the morning that the trial begins. The staff are compassionate and are used to dealing with people who are traumatized. They will attempt to answer your questions and explain some of the unknowns. If you can’t think of questions, ask the staff what they think you need to know.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2011). Getting through the maze: A guidebook for survivors of homicide.