For our criminal justice system to work, people who know something about a crime or who have been a victim of a crime must testify in court. We want to thank you for helping our office and for being a witness. We know that being a witness means giving up some of your time. If you are asked to be a witness in court, we hope these tips will help you:
Bring back your memory
Before you testify, try to remember where you were, what was there, how far away things were, and what happened. This will help you remember the facts better when someone asks you a question. If the question is about distance or time, make sure to say that your answer is just an estimate if it's only an estimate. Be careful of what lawyers say about distances or times if you can't remember the real distance or time. Don't agree with their estimate unless you come to the same estimate on your own.

Say it in your words.
Don't try to remember everything you will say. If you do this, your testimony will sound "pat" and not very convincing. Instead, be yourself and think about the question you will be asked about before you go to trial.
How you look is important.
In court, you should look clean and wear the right clothes. If you look too casual or too fancy, the jury will be distracted during the short time you're on the stand, and they may not pay attention to what you say.
Clear your throat
Give your testimony slowly, clearly, and loudly enough so that the juror who is the farthest away can hear and understand everything you say. Don't do things that will get in the way of your testimony, like chewing gum. Even though a lawyer is asking you questions, keep in mind that the questions are really for the jury.
Don't talk about the case.
Jurors who are hearing or will hear the case in which you are a witness may be in the same public places as you. Because of this, you CANNOT talk about the case with anyone. Also, keep in mind that jurors may be able to see how you act when you're not in court.