Printable checklist

Criminal court process checklist

Key dates, documents to prepare, and stage-by-stage actions for victims and witnesses in a domestic abuse prosecution.

This is information, not legal advice. Timescales vary by police force, CPS area, and court. Always check dates with your Witness Care officer, ISVA/IDVA, or solicitor.

Key dates timeline

Stage	When	What to do
Report to police	Day 0	Get a crime reference number, request a DASH risk assessment and consider MARAC referral.
Investigation	Days–weeks	Provide ABE-recorded video statement, medical evidence, and any digital evidence (texts, calls, CCTV).
Charging decision	Weeks–months	CPS reviews the file. You have a right to be told the outcome and to request a Victims' Right to Review if no charge.
First hearing (Magistrates')	~1–4 weeks after charge	Bail conditions set. Request non-contact and exclusion zones. Confirm special measures.
Plea & case management	4–8 weeks	Defendant enters plea. If not guilty, trial date is set — Magistrates' or Crown Court.
Pre-trial	Weeks before trial	Court familiarisation visit, meet the prosecutor, confirm screens/video link, review your statement.
Trial	3–12 months after charge	Give evidence using special measures. Verdict delivered. Restraining order can be made even on acquittal.
Sentence & after	Same day or later	Note sentence, restraining order terms, licence conditions. Register for Victim Contact Scheme if eligible.

Stage-by-stage actions

Stage 01

Reporting & first response

Crime reference number and officer's name, collar number, and station.
DASH risk assessment score, if shared with you.
Details of any immediate protective measures (police bail conditions, DVPN/DVPO).
Photos of injuries and the scene, taken as soon as it is safe.
Names and contact details of any witnesses.

Stage 02

Investigation

ABE (Achieving Best Evidence) video interview date and a copy request.
Medical records, 999 call logs, body-worn footage requests.
Digital evidence: screenshots of texts, call logs, social media, location data.
Third-party evidence: GP, A&E, refuge, employer, school.
Your ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advocate) or IDVA contact details.

Stage 03

Charging & bail

CPS charging decision in writing.
If no charge: Victims' Right to Review deadline (usually 10 working days from being told).
Bail conditions in writing — non-contact, exclusion zone, surrender of passport.
How to report a bail breach (999 for immediate risk, 101 otherwise).

Stage 04

First hearing & special measures

Special measures request submitted (screens, live link, pre-recorded evidence, removal of wigs and gowns, intermediary).
Confirmation which court will hear the trial (Magistrates' or Crown).
Contact details for the Witness Care Unit assigned to you.
Your Victim Personal Statement — first draft, ready to update before sentencing.

Stage 05

Pre-trial preparation

Court familiarisation visit booked through Witness Service.
Re-read your ABE statement before giving evidence (you are allowed to).
Confirmed transport, safe entrance, and separate waiting area on the day.
Support person (ISVA/IDVA/Witness Service volunteer) confirmed to attend.
Any updates to your Victim Personal Statement.

Stage 06

Trial day

ID, court address, and the case URN with you.
Water, tissues, quiet activity for waiting — trials often overrun.
Special measures confirmed on arrival with the usher.
Notes from the day: who spoke, what was said, how you felt (helpful for appeal or civil case).

Stage 07

Sentence & after

Sentence in writing, including any restraining order and its exact terms.
Licence conditions if a custodial sentence is passed.
Registration with the Victim Contact Scheme (offenders sentenced to 12+ months for a violent/sexual offence).
Compensation order details and how it will be paid.
Log every breach of a restraining order — report to police immediately (999 if in danger).
Appeal deadlines: prosecution appeals and unduly lenient sentence referrals are tight — usually 28 days.

Documents to gather

You may not need every item, but having them ready makes the process easier and safer.

Crime reference number and officer contact details
Copy of your ABE video statement (request via police)
Medical records, GP notes, A&E discharge letters
Photographs of injuries, damage, and the scene
999 / 101 call logs and body-worn footage
Texts, emails, voicemails, social media screenshots
Bank statements if financial control or theft is alleged
Witness statements and contact details
Bail notice and any variations
Charge sheet and case URN
Special measures decision letter
Restraining order (interim and final)
Victim Personal Statement (draft and final)

Safety & support at court

Special measures requested and confirmed in writing before the trial date.
Separate entrance, waiting room, and exit arranged with the Witness Service.
ISVA / IDVA / Witness Service supporter booked for every hearing you attend.
Someone trusted knows the court date and expected finish time.
A safe route home and a place to go if you feel shaken afterwards.
Bail conditions and any restraining order saved somewhere you can show police quickly.
Your evidence journal stored privately, not on a shared device or cloud account the abuser can access.

Common mistakes to avoid in the criminal court process

These mistakes are especially damaging in domestic abuse cases. The prosecution needs truthful, consistent evidence from you. Your credibility is one of the most important things you bring to the case.

Thinking you can drop the case by asking the police

Once the police report a case, the prosecution is brought by the Crown, not by you. The CPS decides whether to continue, and withdrawing your support does not automatically end the case.

Instead: Tell your Witness Care officer, ISVA/IDVA, or solicitor how you feel and why. Ask for your views to be recorded. Do not sign a withdrawal under pressure.

Signing a retraction or changing your statement under pressure

An abuser, family member, or solicitor may press you to retract or change your account. If you change it to something untrue, you may damage the case and could expose yourself to investigation.

Instead: Only correct a statement if it is genuinely inaccurate. If you feel pressured, tell the police or your IDVA/ISVA straight away. A retraction does not guarantee the case will stop.

Deleting messages, photos, or social media evidence

Digital evidence is often central to the prosecution. Deleting it can be seen as tampering and can seriously weaken the case.

Instead: Preserve everything safely, even if it is painful or embarrassing. Screenshots with dates and sender details are useful; keep copies somewhere the abuser cannot reach.

Talking to the defendant or their family about the case

Contact can breach bail conditions, put you at risk, and may be used to suggest you are being influenced or have changed your mind.

Instead: Direct all communication through the police or your solicitor. Log every attempt the defendant or their contacts make to reach you.

Discussing your evidence with other witnesses

If witnesses compare accounts, the defence may argue you have colluded or coached each other. That can undermine everyone's credibility.

Instead: Keep your account separate. Do not read other people's statements or tell other witnesses what to say.

Minimising or changing your story to sound 'reasonable'

The prosecution needs the full, accurate picture. Downplaying abuse or leaving things out can make your account inconsistent and may make the jury doubt you.

Instead: Tell the truth as you remember it. If you are unsure of a date or exact wording, say so. It is better to be honest than to sound perfect.

Not asking for special measures

Special measures — screens, video link, pre-recorded ABE evidence, removal of wigs and gowns, intermediaries — exist to help vulnerable witnesses give their best evidence.

Instead: Ask for them early, at the investigation stage, and ask again before the trial. Do not assume you have to be in the same room as the abuser.

Assuming a 'not guilty' verdict means no protection

A court can still make a restraining order even after an acquittal if it is necessary to protect you from harassment or further abuse.

Instead: Ask the prosecution to apply for a restraining order after the verdict. Keep a copy of any order and report every breach.

Missing the Victim Personal Statement deadline

The Victim Personal Statement is your chance to tell the court how the crime has affected you. It is considered at sentencing.

Instead: Write it as soon as the police or Witness Care officer ask, and update it if your circumstances change before sentencing.

Ignoring breaches of bail or a restraining order

Breach is a separate offence. Ignoring it can make the abuser think the order is meaningless and can put you at greater risk.

Instead: Report every breach. Call 999 if there is immediate danger; otherwise call 101 or report online. Keep a dated log.

Posting about the case on social media

Posts, comments, and messages can be used by the defence and may breach reporting restrictions or bail conditions.

Instead: Keep the case off social media until after the conclusion. Do not name the defendant or discuss evidence online.

Trying to handle it alone to prove you are 'strong'

ISVAs, IDVAs, and the Witness Service are there to protect your rights and help you give your best evidence. Using them is not a weakness.

Instead: Accept the support you are offered. Ask the Witness Care Unit to explain the process and what will happen at each hearing.

Not correcting errors in your police statement

If dates, names, or events are wrong, the defence may use those inconsistencies to challenge your credibility at trial.

Instead: Read your statement carefully. If you spot an error, ask the police to amend or add a clarification as soon as possible.

Expecting the police to be 'your' lawyer in court

The police investigate, but the CPS prosecutes the case. You are a witness, not a party. That can feel frustrating, but it is how the system works.

Instead: Ask the Witness Care Unit or your ISVA/IDVA to explain who is doing what. They can help you understand the process and your rights under the Victims' Code.

Before you print or save

Only print this if it is safe to have a paper copy. If you share a printer, consider saving as PDF to a private device instead.
Clear your browser history after viewing if you are using a shared or monitored device.
Keep bail notices, restraining orders and your Victim Personal Statement somewhere secure, with copies in a second safe location if you can.

Open evidence checklist Read the Victims' Code Return to criminal evidence guide