ABOUT THE TOUR
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A courtroom tour involves many elements, all designed to help place the child witness at ease. The child and his or her family  will be allowed to explore the facilities, including the courtroom, the waiting room, and will be shown the restroom area.  Children will be introduced to the equipment of the courtroom, and the people he or she will see in court during the hearing.  They may even be able to sit in the judge's chair!

Many other topics will probably be addressed during the tour.  If the charges being prosecuted are sexual in nature, the Commonwealth's Attorney may ask for a closed preliminary hearing.  This means that no one but essential personnel will be allowed in the court during the hearing: judge, prosecutor, testifying witness, defense attorney, defendant, bailiff(s), clerk, and courtroom reporter, and any support person for the victim. Minors, as well as adults, are allowed to have a support person with them while they testify.  For younger children, the support person will probably be their mother or father, unless they both have been subpoenaed as well. Older children may select from a wider range of support persons, often selecting brothers or sisters, grandparents, aunts or uncles, or friends. If the parent of a teen is not selected as a support person, it is important to remember that some topics may be difficult subjects with older children, especially teens, who tend to not want parent in the room when they testify about sensitive matters.