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Michigan ACEs Action (MI)

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Assistance dog trained to help witnesses, victims in Stanislaus County court [Modesto Bee]

AA Court Dog 01

 

The woman, a victim of an assault, sat in the courtroom’s witness chair and started to talk. As she told a judge what happened and how it affected her – giving what’s called a victim impact statement – the woman started to cry.

 

Quietly, the tawny-colored dog next to her placed its head on the woman’s lap. Honor is a trained assistance dog, and it seems like she can sense when someone needs her help.

 

That is this dog’s job, to help people get through a criminal justice process that can be incredibly stressful at times. “She should just be a silent force,” said Deputy District Attorney Merrill Hoult, Honor’s handler.

 

Honor has been helping witnesses and victims at the courthouse for about a month. The highly trained dog has been placed with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office to assist people in court, along with offering emotional support when victims are questioned about suspected sexual abuse or domestic violence.


To continue reading this story by http://www.modbee.com/news/article37234971.html
 
 

Jane Stevens

 

 

 

I can see this as a great program to consider for our citizens in Michigan.  This could benefit many.  What do you think?

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Comments (3)

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Tina,

I understand completely. The "system" has to ask a victim to recount and relive a horrific incident. This is the same for victims of domestic violence. When I worked as a domestic violence advocate I went to court with victims.The cross examination was the worst.

 

~ Cathy

Very cool.  There was a time and even now.   I could use such a service dog.  There is a big internal push to not report sexual assault.  I wouldn't because I did not want to be re-traumatized by this system that is very adversarial and tends to blame the one assaulted. 

We are very excited in Grand Traverse And Leelanau counties to have the use of a "facility" dog to spend time with witnesses, children in court, and families. Gunther is handled by the Victim Witness Coordinator of Leelanau county, Laurie LaCross. Laurie wrote a grant to fund Gunther and then completed weeks of specialized training. Someday with Gunther is ready to retire Laurie will adopt him.

 

He is trained specifically to be non-reactive. Most dogs react when threatened or even when a door is opened to the room they are in, however; Gunther does not react. When a dog reacts around someone who has been victimized it can place the victim into the fear/flight/freeze mode. To have a non-reactive dog sitting next to a victim is incredibly calming and reassuring that the place is truly a safe place.

 

Thank you to Laurie for making this resource a reality in our community!

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