The Role of Courthouse facility dog in the Justice System

Courthouse facility dogs play a vital role in the justice system. They have been trained to provide emotional support and comfort to victims, witnesses, and even law enforcement officers.

These dogs are specially trained to navigate the courtroom and interact with people in a calm and gentle manner. They are often certified by organizations like the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA).

In many cases, facility dogs have helped reduce anxiety and stress levels in the courtroom, allowing individuals to feel more at ease during testimony. Their presence can also help to break the ice and create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Studies have shown that courthouse facility dogs can improve the accuracy of witness testimony, particularly in cases involving children or vulnerable adults.

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Courthouse facility dogs are bred, raised, and trained by service dog organizations that are members of Assistance Dogs International. These organizations include Canine Companions for Independence, Assistance Dogs of the West, and Support Dogs, Inc.

Most courthouse facility dogs are either golden or Labrador retrievers or a combination of the two breeds. They spend 18 months with a volunteer puppy raiser and six months or more with a professional dog trainer.

The dog's temperament is carefully assessed during this time, and only those with a quiet, calm demeanor and self-confidence are selected to become courthouse dogs. They must be adaptable, highly social, and able to work independently with many individuals throughout the day.

Courthouse dogs are trained to pass a public access test and to tolerate various situations, including people wearing different clothing, angry people, and emotionally charged situations. They also learn to know when to engage with people and when to become almost invisible.

Their handlers receive intensive training before graduating with their dog, and many qualified dogs carry liability insurance, such as the one million dollars minimum policy carried by Canine Companions for Independence.

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Courthouse facility dogs are usually bred, raised, and trained by service dog organizations that are members of Assistance Dogs International.

These organizations, such as Canine Companions for Independence, Assistance Dogs of the West, and Support Dogs, Inc., have specific training standards for their facility dogs.

Most courthouse facility dogs are either golden or Labrador retrievers or a combination of the two breeds.

They typically spend 18 months being raised by a volunteer puppy raiser with weekly obedience classes.

After that, they have six months or more of work with a professional dog trainer.

The trainers carefully assess which dogs have the best temperament to work in a courthouse environment.

A successful courthouse dog will have a quiet, calm demeanor and be self-confident.

They need to be adaptable, highly social, and work independently with many individuals throughout a typical day.

Courthouse dogs also need to be able to tolerate people wearing a variety of clothing from all walks of life.

They should be able to handle angry people, drug abusers, children who invade boundaries, erratic behavior, and emotionally charged situations.

In addition to basic training, courthouse dogs should pass a public access test.

Their handlers also receive intensive training before graduating from the service dog organization with their dog.

To protect the jurisdiction and handler of the dog, many qualified dogs carry liability insurance, such as the courthouse facility dogs provided by Canine Companions for Independence, which carries a minimum of one million dollars in liability insurance.

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Courthouse facility dogs are available to everyone, not just prosecution witnesses. If a witness can demonstrate to the judge that the presence of a dog would help them testify, the dog should be made available.

The National Crime Victim Law Institute suggests providing a jury instruction about the dog's presence to overcome any unfair prejudice. This instruction should be given to the jurors before deliberations.

Testifying in court can be a stressful experience, and these dogs are used to help reduce witness anxiety. They are available to any witness who requests one.

In the 2013 Washington state Supreme Court case State v Dye, the court found that a courthouse facility dog was not unduly prejudicial. The court also found that a limiting instruction to the jury cured any potential bias.

Juries are presumed to follow instructions unless there's evidence to the contrary. In this case, there was no such evidence on the record.

Facility dogs like Lorne and Barley are specially trained to provide emotional support to children who testify in court. They're not just there for show; they're working dogs with a crucial role to play.

Their handlers, Dayle Urquheart and Kelsey Grimmer, undergo rigorous training with the dogs to ensure they're prepared for the tough situations they'll face. Lorne and Barley are only worked 20 hours a week, which helps prevent burnout and keeps them effective.

The Courthouse Facility Dog Program has made a real difference, helping close to 3,000 children since its inception in 2014. It's a testament to the power of these special dogs and their handlers.

Lorne and Barley are Courthouse Facility Dogs with the non-profit Voices For Children in Hillsborough County, Florida.

They provide emotional support for kids who've been through traumatic experiences and have to testify in court.

Their calm demeanor and training make them perfect for this role, with Lorne's handler Dayle Urquheart saying "He knows when he walks into this building, he is working, and he is here to serve his client which is the victims."

The dogs and their handlers, Urquheart and Kelsey Grimmer, went through rigorous training before graduating into their roles.

These dogs are angels, and their handlers are amazing for what they do, according to Jennifer Starr, the executive director with Voices for Children.

Judge Leslie Schultz-Kin has witnessed the impact Lorne and Barley have had firsthand, saying "I’ve been just amazed at what those children can come in and tell me about their story and about what happened to them."

The Courthouse Facility Dog Program started with Voices For Children in 2014 and has helped close to 3,000 children.

Barley was there for one teenage girl who was a victim of sexual assault, and his presence helped her feel more at ease during a deposition.

Barley's handler Kelsey Grimmer explained that they try to divide and conquer, working with the dogs no more than 20 hours a week to avoid burnout.

Dogs in Texas play a vital role in courtrooms and legal proceedings. Texas did not have a law explicitly allowing facility dogs to assist victims in state courthouses before 2021.

The Texas Courthouse Dogs Law, which went into effect on September 1, 2021, was a game-changer for victims of abuse. This law helps bring abusers to justice by allowing facility dogs to provide comfort and support in court.

A qualified facility dog is highly trained and can work full-time in specialized environments like courts and children's shelters. They undergo at least one year of training by a certified training organization.

A key difference between a qualified facility dog and a qualified therapy dog is their level of training and work schedule. Qualified therapy dogs typically work two hours or less per day and are not considered employees in the same sense as facility dogs.

Research shows that dogs can lower cortisol levels and raise oxytocin levels in our systems, making victims more comfortable and able to recall details of their abuse. This results in stronger indictments and higher conviction rates.

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