What can you expect at Court?

As part of our services to all court users you can expect the following:

  • Public offices that are generally be open weekdays from 9.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm (3.45pm on Fridays). You may wish to check times with your local court
  • Clearly marked reception or information points
  • Clear signs to help you get around
  • Lists of cases to be heard displayed clearly on noticeboards
  • Clean, adequate and comfortable accommodation
  • Recent reading materials in witness rooms
  • At least one public telephone
  • Sufficient, clean toilets
  • Refreshment facilities for all or part of the day, and toys for children, in all but the smallest courts
  • Disabled access, where possible, to the main public areas of every courthouse
  • Induction loops and sound-enhancement systems in most courtrooms for people with hearing difficulties
  • Information booklets about our services and a range of court-related procedures. A number of these are now available in various minority languages, Braille, on audio tape and in large print
  • If English is not your first language, or you are deaf or hard of hearing, an interpreter can be provided for you in the courtroom. This service is free of charge. The Clerk of Court will arrange interpreters for the accused. The Procurator Fiscal’s Office or Victim Information and Advice Office will arrange interpreters for victims and crown witnesses
  • We are registered with Typetalk and Text Direct, which are services provided by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and by British Telecom. These services let people who are deaf or hard of hearing have telephone access to court offices
  • We are registered with Languageline. If English is not your first language, this service can help you speak to court staff, whether in person or by telephone

Find out more about our service to all court users in the booklet Scottish Court Service: Court Users Charter.

 

Witnesses can expect the following:

  • Separate waiting areas for Crown and defence witnesses in most courts. Where this is not possible, arrangements can be made for Crown witnesses to wait apart from defence witnesses. You can arrange this by speaking to the Clerk of Court well before the court date
  • Witness Service volunteers to provide information, advice and support to victims and witnesses (available in all Sheriff Courts by summer 2002).
  • Witnesses will be kept informed of the progress of cases throughout the day, and be given an explanation for any delays
  • If witnesses are no longer needed to give evidence, they will be allowed to leave as soon as possible and told what has happened in the case

You can find out more about our services for witnesses and victims of crime in the booklet 'Scottish Court Service: Standard of Service for Victims'.

If you have any special needs you should let the Clerk of Court know well before your court date.