General - A guide to your first court appearance. This was written for people in Wyoming, but it applies to every state. 

A guide by the NYC Bar to appearing at your trial. 

Information from the DOJ on initial court appearances.

Federal Specific - A general description of what happens in a federal criminal case.

General - A guide to your first court appearance. This was written for people in Wyoming, but it applies to every state. 

State Specific - NY - The criminal justice process is complex, and often can be confusing to persons not familiar with criminal law.  This arrest-to-sentence guide and legal glossary are designed to explain and clarify the criminal justice process in New York County.

If you are charged with a crime or issued a traffic ticket, you may be ordered to appear in court. Depending on the charges, you may be required to appear several times during a criminal case – for an arraignment, pre-trial conference, hearing, trial, sentencing, or other proceeding. A summons or notice to appear is a court order. If you do not appear as ordered, you have violated the court order and may face serious consequences, even criminal charges.

A guide by the Florida Courts on appearing in court for hearings and trial. 

General - This is an outline of the course a criminal case involving a felony, such as rape, follows through the court systems. Although you, as a witness, are not involved at every step, it can help you understand your role and the way the criminal justice system works by reviewing this information.