Court Testimony: Managing the Stress of Court Appearance

Testifying in court is often stressful for law enforcement officers. Trials occur months after an arrest and memories of the details fade with time. Leading or ambiguous questions posed by defense attorneys are particularly stressful. At times it may seem to an officer that he, rather than the accused, is the one on trial. For officers working night shifts but testifying during the day, sleep deprivation may also contribute to courtroom stress.