Seeing your court date creep closer and closer can be intimidating. When you see that your date is coming up, you might wonder if there is something you should be doing to prepare for your court date. In fact, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you are well prepared for your criminal court case.

Know What Charges You Are Up Against

If you do not have an attorney, you might want to call the D.A. to see what charges you are up against. If you have an attorney, you may not need to take this step yourself. You need to know exactly what you are up against because the charges officially filed against you may not be the charges you were arrested on. You could be facing fewer or more charges based on the evidence the district attorney finds against you. If you do call the office, do not say anything that could be used against you in court. Do not discuss the specifics of your case.

Ask for Support

The court case can be a stressful time, even if you are innocent of the charges you face. This means you should rally some support to help you through the next stages. It can feel nice to have some familiar faces in the courtroom and at home if you are out on bail.

Plan Ahead for Your Court Dates

You will have some idea of your court dates ahead of time, and it is imperative that you plan ahead to ensure that you will be on time. Plan ahead with work or make travel arrangements now to ensure you do not miss your court dates. Know where to park, which bus to take, or which courthouse you need to be at if you are unclear. Otherwise, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest, and you could face even steeper charges in the long run.

Planning ahead also means having several pieces of clothing that you can wear to court. Dress conservatively, and avoid wearing jeans, baseball caps, and anything else that looks too casual. It is better to wear something you would feel comfortable wearing to church or a job interview.

Consult With a Criminal Defense Attorney

Finally, make sure that you meet with your defense attorney to discuss the charges against you. If you do not have an attorney, now is a great time to consider hiring one.

To learn more about criminal law, contact a lawyer.