Promoting justice through the use of courthouse dogs to provide emotional support for everyone in our criminal justice system
A Courthouse Dog is for Everybody
“The duty of the prosecutor is to seek justice, not merely convict.”
ABA Criminal Justice Standard 3-1.2 (c)
It is our philosophy that a courthouse dog should be able to assist anyone during stressful stages of criminal justice proceedings. This is especially true during a trial when it is a prosecutor’s duty to search for the truth.
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Kelly and Courthouse Dog Kerris
Photo by Atsuko Otsuka
Kitsap County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Kelly’ s courthouse dog Kerris works in drug court, assists children in forensic interviews and in the courtroom. She also visits with support staff, defense counsel, jurors, law enforcement officers and judges during the course of her day. Many people from all walks of life regard her as a friend.
When a defense attorney asked Mr. Kelly if Kerris could assist an 11 year- old defense witness, without missing a beat, he replied, “Sure that would be no problem.