Laird, Cathy --- "Telephone service offers pre-court help" [1997] LawIJV 7; (1997) 71(1) The Law Institute Journal 19

• Telephone service offers pre-court help

Telephone service offers pre-court help

The Victorian organisation, Court Network, has launched a free telephone information and referral service.

The service, which provides court support, information and pre-court counselling to help people attending court, will complement the Office of Public Prosecutions' witness assistance scheme and Court Net-work's existing services.

Court Network has more than 400 volunteers and operates a statewide personal sup-port, information and referral service for people going to court. Its services are available on-site in the Supreme, County, Magistrates' and Coroners' Courts. Also located in the Family Courts, Court Network has developed services specialising in family support and family violence.

Court Network executive director Therese McCarthy says the service provides advice and assistance for a range of court users, including witnesses, victims and accused.

Ms McCarthy says Court Network wants to work more closely with the profession and believes court users will benefit from practitioners and the service working together.

Although the service advises court users about their rights and entitlements, it does not give legal advice. "There are clear boundaries about the role of our organisation. We can help explain how the system works, but that is the limit of our role in that area."

She says practitioners do not always have the time to offer the type of support offered by Court Network and volunteers from the service can be of use while the practitioners are engaged in advocacy.

A range of services, including childcare and pre-court tours, can be organised through the telephone service. Callers can then be put in touch with one of the volunteers with Court Network, which has been operating for more than sixteen years.

"For most people, appearing in court, or even supporting someone else who has to go to court, can be frightening and daunting, but now, thanks to the service, we can offer some real help before they front up to court," Ms McCarthy says.
"Court Network is based on an outreach model in the courts, but the telephone service will give practical advice such as what to expect in court, or referral to other appropriate agencies for the accused, victims and witnesses before they go to court."

The objectives of the telephone service are to provide: pre-court telephone support; pre-court information and legal referrals (with an emphasis on the rights of court users);

pre-court counselling for crime victims;

1 pre-court planning system for people needing help with childcare, disability access and interpreters;

By a booking system for pre-court orientation tours for people attending court who will be unrepresented and for people escaping domestic violence who need assistance to plan the safe use of court facilities;

post-court debriefing; and development of a database to assist in more systematic service planning and referral.

The service can arrange for a person appearing in court to be met and personally sup-ported by a Court Network volunteer. Pre-court tours enable people to become familiar with the layout of a court and have the procedures explained to them.

Ms McCarthy says while the service's contact with practitioners varies, in some jurisdictions there is a well-developed relationship with barristers and solicitors.

"In the County Court, for example, the DPP refers to us a lot for pre-court tours for victims of crime; we support people in the Magistrates' Court for committals; and we provide continuity of care between committals and trials.
"We also have a good relationship with defence bar service. Four part-time staff risters where people are being are located in Ballarat, Ben tried in the Supreme Court. digo, Geelong and Morwell. We take care of the families of The telephone service was the accused and the victim established by a $7900 grant through days or weeks of a from the Rotary Club of Melb trial." ourne-Port Phillip.

Court Network volunteers The free service will operate undergo nineteen weeks of between 9am and 5pm, tel (03) training and are supervised by 9603 7433 or free call 1800 681 ten paid program managers 614. who also operate the telephone CATHY LAIRD

A case study A woman with four children, who is escaping domestic violence, is attending court without legal representation, accompanied by the children. Her concerns are safety for herself and her children, fear of the legal process, and the needs of her children while she attempts to focus on the complex legal proceedings. Currently, a Court Net-court and provide her with support and offer her refuge in the Court Network office at the court.With a pre-court telephone call, the service could advise her about childcare, organise an interpreter if required, and arrange access to accommodation after the hearing and for a Court Networker to meet her at court. The process could be explained before going to court and any questions dealt with before she arrives.