Promoting justice through the use of well-trained dogs to provide emotional support for everyone in our criminal justice system
The Types of Courthouse Dogs
Three different types of working dogs can be used successfully to provide emotional support within the courthouse environment. Because of their varying levels of training, they are best suited to differing duties within the criminal justice system.
Professional Courthouse Facility Dog
- Works fulltime in the criminal justice system
- Acquired as a highly trained adult dog from a professional organization
- Handled by and lives with a professional who works in the legal system
- Works in forensic interviews, defense interviews, courtrooms, other specialized environments
- Assists drug court participants in their recovery
- Visits children in detention facilities
- Serves as emotional support to children being interviewed, victims of crimes, witnesses who request a dog’s presence in the courtroom, and others in courtroom environment
Courthouse Visiting Dog
- Visits in public areas of the courthouse and child advocacy centers for 1 to 4 hours at a time as part of an organized program
- Handled by a volunteer
- Trained by volunteer handler/owner
- Certified by Delta Society (http://www.deltasociety.org/) or Therapy Dogs International (http://www.tdi-dog.org/)
- Serves as emotional support for members of the public waiting for courthouse procedures, jury members waiting to be called, visitors of all ages, courthouse staff
- Assists drug court participants in their recovery
Courthouse Office Pet Dog
- No specialized training
- Suggested completion of AKC Canine Good Citizen certification
- Owned and handled by staff member
- Remains in “back office”; never interacts with public
- Serves as emotional support to staff in office