Paws in Court

               Have you ever had to walk into a courtroom, get onto the witness stand, swear to tell the truth, and then sit down and tell a judge or jury details about something bad that happened to you?  Was it a scary experience? Sure it was!  Now imagine having to go through that as a young child. Most people who have ever had to live through such an experience will tell you that it was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of their lives.  Child abuse victims are often frightened and intimidated if they have to testify about their experience in front of a judge or jury. Fortunately, many jurisdictions now have the assistance of what is a growing practice in courthouses across the U.S. – the use of a “comfort dog.”   While most of us think of the term “working dogs” as service animals for the disabled, police dogs, or military working dogs, dogs can also be trained to be “courthouse” or “comfort” dogs. These canines aid in the investigation of crimes involving young or vulnerable victims and in the preparation for, or during trial or hearing testimony. 

               Authorities across the country have turned to these four-legged assistants to comfort some of the youngest and most fragile crime victims during the judicial process. The use of therapy or service dogs to assist victims dates back to the 1980s. Today, at least 144 courthouse facility dogs work in about 3 dozen states, and at least one-third of them assist in the courtroom.  The dogs quite often assist in the “rapport phase” of interviewing the victim – where the attorney looks to establish a relationship with the child.  The dogs help children relax by offering a supportive presence. That, in turn, helps the child compose him or herself and tell a judge or jury what happened.  In some jurisdictions, the dogs are not used during trials but rather to provide support when victims or witnesses are interviewed or deposed.

               State laws vary as to who can be helped by a canine in the courtroom and under what circumstances. Some laws apply only to children; others include crime victims or vulnerable adults such as those who are intellectually or developmentally disabled. Most specify that the dog must be a graduate of a certified assistance dog organization.

               So how does Fido achieve such a status?  Training and many hours of highly skilled work for both the dog and its human handler.  The dog has to be a highly trained graduate of an Assistance Dogs International (SDI) service dog organization or an equivalent thereof.  He or she is tested for safe behavior around children and adults.  After some initial training, the dog is assigned to a handler that has previously applied for a comfort dog. The handler then goes through additional training with the dog, and the dog goes home with the handler to live on a full-time basis. This forms an important bond between the two, as the dog learns to rely on the handler for its instruction as to how to perform in court or with a victim.  

                So, if you’re ever summoned for jury duty and hear some snoring or a soft “woof” coming from the area of the witness stand, don’t be surprised.  It’s a comfort dog on the job!  

Written by: Melissa Kalaus, Senior Attorney