WOAR’s Court Advocates are trained to be helpful to child and adult sexual abuse and sexual assault survivors at all stages of the court process. The courtroom can be confusing and frightening and court procedures hard to understand. The WOAR Court Advocates proved court accompaniment, emotional support, legal information and advocacy.
Some Commonly Asked Legal Questions
1. Do I need to hire a lawyer?
No, sexual assault is a crime against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the victim/survivor is the person who makes the complaint. This means that the survivor is the main witness for the state, which provides a lawyer, called an Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A).
2. How do I know when to go to court?
You will probably receive a written notice (a subpoena) in the mail telling you the date and time, you are expected to come to court. The subpoena is a legal order; DO NOT ignore it.
3. Where do I go?
There are two locations where sexual assault and abuse cases are heard: Family/Juvenile Court at 1802 Vine st. and the Criminal Justice Center at 13th and Filbert St. Your subpoena and/or you are A.D.A will tell you where to go and which courtroom to report.
4. What is a preliminary hearing?
A preliminary hearing is usually held shortly after the arrest (a week to 10 days). It is generally a simple and brief procedure, which takes place only in cases where there are felony charges. The victim/witness testifies to the basic facts of his/her assault. Then the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to move the case to trial. At the preliminary hearing, charges may be added or dropped depending on the attorney. Bail may be raised, lowered or remain the same.
