Court Assistance

Psycho-social court assistance

A social worker from our counseling center for women will support and accompany you during criminal proceedings. This means:

• You will receive information about the course of proceedings, starting with consultation before filing a report.
• Your counselor will accompany you to the police (for example, to file a report or for questioning).
• Your counselor will explain what is important and provide you with emotional support.
• Your counselor will accompany you to court appointments.
• Your counselor will help you with preparation.
• You can talk to your counselor about your fears and feelings.
• You can also receive court assistance if a report has already been filed.

Legal court assistance

In addition to your counselor, you will receive support from a lawyer. This means:

• Your lawyer will explain your rights and obligations and the course of the proceedings.
• Your lawyer will accompany and represent you in court.
• Your lawyer will ensure that your procedural rights are upheld.
• Your lawyer will handle your claim for compensation in criminal proceedings.

Court Assistance in Civil Proceedings

You can also receive legal support services in civil proceedings (for example: divorce, maintenance, contact rights, or custody).

This is possible if:

• the criminal proceedings are connected to the civil proceedings.
• You are already receiving court assistance in the criminal proceedings.

In civil proceedings, there is no legal court assistance. Here you will be accompanied by a psychosocial counselor. However, you can receive legal advice from a lawyer at our counseling center.

When can I receive court assistance?

You have a right to court assistance if:

• You have been abused or injured by your partner or another family member.
• You have been subjected to dangerous threats.
• You have experienced sexual violence.
• You are being stalked.
• If you are a relative of a victim who has died as a result of the crime.
• You are affected by online hate speech. This means: stalking and attacks against you in the digital space (cyber violence).