Training people for successful partnerships with courthouse facility dogs
What is a courthouse facility dog?
Courthouse facility dogs are professionally trained dogs working throughout the country in prosecutor’s offices, child advocacy centers, and family courts. They primarily provide a calming influence for children during stressful legal proceedings.
As legally neutral companions for witnesses during the investigation and prosecution of crimes, these dogs help the most vulnerable witnesses feel willing and able to describe what happened. The dogs also provide emotional support to participants in family court proceedings and in specialty/treatment courts.
These programs make a difference
In Texas, a frightened little girl who had been sexually abused was brought to a child advocacy center to tell a stranger about what happened to her. When the forensic interviewer left the room for a moment to speak with detectives, the child hugged Petra and said,
I love you, Petra. You really are a good dog. I’ve told you more than I’ve ever told anybody. I hope when you die, you go to heaven.”
These programs work
Courthouse facility dogs provide a compassionate way to help traumatized victims tell their stories. Because of the success of this program, more participants in law enforcement and the judicial system are recognizing its value and seeking information about how to get started.
For people interested in starting a courthouse facility dogs program in your organization, we can help you:
Events
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Learn more
2023 International Courthouse Dogs Conference
September 6, 2023 to September 8, 2023, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bellevue, WA
News
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Canine companions in the courtroom – Will dogs in court soon become common practice?
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Courthouse comfort dog Hatty melts away anxiety for reticent young abuse victims
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Justice facility dogs: The quiet, skilled heroes helping child victims
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How a ‘very good dog’ is helping child abuse victims
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Quebec’s beloved 1st police support dog hangs up its leash after helping hundreds of young victims
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Marshall County’s first facility dog calms courtroom drama
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They all love Lucy: How a four-legged friend can help us in court
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Miami County Probation Department introduces its newest employee
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Therapy Dog Helping Children Heal From Abuse
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Trained dogs should be allowed to comfort witnesses during court proceedings, ABA House says
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Courtroom dog ruled OK by Colorado Court of Appeals
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Facility Dogs in the Courtroom: Comfort Without Prejudice?
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NDAA 2018 Resolution on Courthouse Facility Dogs
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Courthouse Facility Dog Resolution of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
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The Child Witness in the Courtroom
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Meet the dog that comforts children who testify in court (Colorado)
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For child sex abuse victims, court can be another place to feel unsafe (Massachusetts)
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Boulder’s Blue Sky Bridge uses facility dog to comfort child victims (Colorado)
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Developmentally and Trauma-Sensitive Courtrooms
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