Testifying can be especially traumatic for victims of crimes like rape, molestation or domestic violence, while victims of gang-related crimes may fear retaliation if they testify. Fear of Victims Most of the time people wonder why the victim fear to testify in court of law, and people also imagine what might happen to victim that testify in the court, but to find out the answer, we must first look at the definition of a victim. To anyone anxious of public speaking, testifying in Court is one of the worst experiences imaginable. You must first notify the court and other parties of those reasons. How to Calm Clients’ Anxiety About Testifying By Alan Fanger. Testifying in court is not a glamorous part of policing, but it’s one of the most important skills to master as a professional law enforcement officer. We appreciate the sacrifice of your time that being a witness requires. Interestingly, fear of public speaking is the most common phobia, ahead of death, spiders or heights. Unfortunately, even if you are not comfortable coming forward, the court can compel you to cooperate. Fighting 'anti-snitching' culture: Fear of testifying an issue in cases By ALVA JAMES-JOHNSON - ajjohnson@ledger-enquirer.com August 16, 2014 10:18 PM , Ignoring a subpoena or simply failing to show up in court without the judge’s approval may lead to you being arrested for failure to appear. The court shall support a ruling on the child’s inability to testify with findings on the record. The next time you are called upon to take the stand, remember that as a … The Art of Testifying in Court. Generally, you can only avoid testifying in court in a limited set of circumstances. In-court testimony from those who have knowledge of or are victims of a crime is crucial for our criminal justice system. One of the most important aspects of policing tends to receive the least amount of training attention. We thank you for your cooperation with our office and for your service as a witness. The Court found that whilst there were differences in the statutes of the Isle of Man and those in England and Wales, the differences were not considered to be of substance or of any significance and that reference to precedents from the Courts in England and Wales on the issue of a witness being in fear could be referred to. The Court is set up in a way that the witness is in the most prominent position, before many people, and being carefully scrutinized on every word they say. by Jamie Hamlett, JD, Attorney for the Alamance County Department of Social Services. Testifying in court is an art, one that can only be mastered through practice and experience. But fear of public speaking, lack of control over the court process and horror stories told by other officers may add to the stress of testifying. Terrified to Testify ... is a necessary step when there's no other way to get a witness into court. 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