When to go to court

Your first day in court is called your 'mention' date and you must not miss this date.

There are four ways you can be made to go to court:

• The police take you to court
  If you are arrested, the police may take you to the watchhouse and keep you in custody until you have to appear.
  
• You could receive bail and be ordered to go to court
  After you are arrested, the police might grant you bail. Bail is a promise to attend court on a particular date to face the charges against you. This may include special conditions such as reporting to police regularly, or surety, which means someone will put up money or property to guarantee your appearance in court.
  
• You could receive a notice to appear
  After being arrested, instead of placing you in custody, the police might give you a notice to appear and let you go home. They can give this to you when they charge you or will mail it to you. A Notice to Appear is a written document that tells you what you have been charged with and when and where you have to go to court.
  
• You will receive a summons to appear
  After being arrested, instead of placing you in custody, the police might give you a summons to appear. This is a written document that tells you what you have been charged with and when and where you have to go to court. This is like a notice to appear, but is signed by a Justice of the Peace and the Police will lodge it with the court.

For more information, read Legal Aid Queensland's defendant guide.