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Presentations by Courthouse Dogs

Terrific presentation – fabulous use of lecture, questions, video, and dog.
     - from National Crime Victim Law Institute Conference June 09

Read about Courthouse Dogs in Santiago, Chile

Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile, September 2009

Our informative one to two hour presentations are customized for your group of any size. Presentations are appropriate for any of the following audiences:

• Judges
• Prosecutors
• Forensic interviewers
• Victim Advocates
• Child advocacy center staff or board
• Law enforcement
• Foundations interested in funding your program

In these presentations, an experienced senior deputy  prosecuting attorney and a veterinarian team up to inform you about  best practices for incorporating a professionally trained assistance dog into working with your clients. A facility assistance dog can provide incomparable emotional support for a child victim during criminal investigations, a forensic interview, defense interviews, a competency hearing, and, if necessary, in the courtroom during a trial. In addition, a professionally trained assistance dog can provide emotional support to anyone experiencing the stress of criminal justice procedures.

Our presentations make use of lecture, video, and slide show. The areas covered can include the following topics among others:

• Philosophy and best practices in the use of courthouse dogs
• The need for a professionally trained dog in the criminal justice system
• Using a courthouse dog in public areas of your courthouse or child advocacy center
• Using a dog effectively in forensic interviews
• In the courtroom – when to use a dog, when to introduce the motion, writing a brief, arguing the motion
• Defending against challenges to the use of the dog in the courtroom
• A prosecutor's use of dog to assist a vulnerable witness
• Gaining support from your office in order to establish a dog program
• Where to get a facility dog – how to apply, costs involved
• Dog allergic people
• Fear of dogs, cultural limitations
• Integrating a full-time assistance dog successfully into a professional office  environment

 

Courthouse Dogs offers a full range of consulting services in this field. Please contact us for further information.