Last reviewed November 2020 by the Clicklaw Editors

Children of all ages can be called to testify in court.  Court preparation and support services are available and help to lower a child's understandable fears about testifying in a strange and stressful environment.  They also help his/her ability as a witness.

The resources below provide information on the resources available to children and their parents and what happens before, during, and after a child’s testimony in court.

Good starting points include:

• Let's Go to Court, from the Justice Education Society of BC, is a booklet and a video for children and teens about the options available and what happens when they testify in court.
• If Your Child is a Victim of Crime, from the provincial government, describes how parents can support children who are victims of crime, and the services available.
• Let's Go to Court: A Guide to Court Orientation for Child and Youth Witnesses, from the provincial government, explains what to expect in court, what the process is, and the role of the child or youth witness.

Need more help?

• VictimLinkBC, from the provincial government, provides information and referral services to all victims of crime. It is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual telephone service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-563-0808 to get referred to an office near you.

See our related common questions:

• See all common questions about children & teens
• See all common questions about courts & tribunals
• See all common questions about victims of crime

 

 

tags

victim of crime, victim support, victims, testifying in court, going to court, children in court, child victim