Introducing
Prezi AI.
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Loading…
Canines In Court
22
Transcript
CANINES IN COURT:
The Impact of Canine-Assisted Therapy on Children and Adolescents in the Legal System
What We Will Cover
- What is Canine-Assisted Therapy (CAT)?
- The benefits of CAT
- The science behind CAT
- Children and CAT
- Dogs in the courtroom
Introduction
What is Canine-Assisted Therapy?
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
The Delta Society, now known as Pet Partners, defines AAT as “[a type of therapy that] utilizes the human/animal bond in goal-directed interventions as an integral part of the treatment process.” (Geist, 2011)
1
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
2
- Focuses on social interaction and positive experience as provided through human-animal interactions (HAI)
- Goal-based
- Uses an animal to meet the needs of the person or people it is working with
- Offers unique style of support for learning, physical health, and emotional well-being
- Benefits participants through positive and friendly interactions with a companion animal
Definition of Terms
- AAT is a young science and there is a lack of unification in terminology
- There are different types of human-animal interaction (HAI)
- Animal-assisted intervention
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Animal-assisted education
- Animal-assisted activities
- There are different roles which animals can play in human-animal interactions
- Emotional support animals
- Service animals
- Therapy animals
3
Types of HAI
- Animal-assisted intervention (AAI): an umbrella term for any goal-oriented program which incorporates animals with the intention of providing therapeutic benefits and to improve health and wellness
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT): a type of AAI which is used in health and human service programs including occupational, physical, or speech therapy, social work, or mental health programs
- Animal-assisted education (AAE): goal-oriented and structured intervention which takes place in an educational setting with a focus on academic goals and social development
- Animal-assisted activities (AAA): more general interventions with a broader goal of providing motivation or recreational gains for better quality of life
Types of HAI
Roles of Animals in HAI
Emotional Support Animals
- Provides therapeutic assistance associated with a verifiable mental or psychiatric disability
- No specific training or certifications required
- Limited access to public locations
- May be a variety of animals
Emotional Support Animals
Service Animals
- Animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities
- No uniform training required but there are nationally recognized certification programs
- Have broad access to public locations
- Most common species of service animals are canines
Therapy Animals
- Assist many professions, such as counselors, physical therapists, teachers, and social workers
- Animals besides dogs are common, including guinea pigs, horses, rabbits, and cats
- Varying levels of training relative to a typical pet
- Different standards of training depending on the target group
Therapy Animals
Where AAT can be Applied
- Juvenile detention centers
- Jails
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Schools
- Courtrooms
Benefits of CAT
The Limbic System
The Science Behind CAT
- The limbic system is associated with emotion and motivation
- consists of the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus which play a role in how a person interprets and responds to different stimuli including anxiety and stress
- CAT helps reduce stress response
Hormones and Neurotransmitters
Oxytocin: hormone produced in the hypothalamus which stimulates social interaction, decreases behaviors such as depression and aggressiveness, and reduces stress by decreasing levels of stress hormones in the body
- CAT activates the oxytocin system
Cortisol: a steroid hormone released when a person is stressed
- CAT has been found to lower cortisol
Dopamine: neurotransmitter which plays a role in focus and attention
- CAT increases dopamine levels in the body
Hormones and Neurotransmitters
Physiological Benefits
- Stress reduction
- Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
- Decreased salivary cortisol
- Increased calmness
Physiological Benefits
- CAT helps meet the need for physical touch
- Physical connection between humans can be complicated because of societal norms
- Animals give people a safe way to give and receive physical contact
Psychological Benefits
- Researched effects include benefits for social attention and behavior, social interaction, and mood
- Participants of canine-assisted therapy programs have reported greater relief from fear and anxiety
- CAT enhances trust, reduces aggression, improves frustration tolerance, and promotes learning
How CAT Benefits Children
- Positive nonjudgmental support
- Studies have shown that working with dogs helps give children a way to de-escalate and refocus
- Increased motivation, attention, and engagement
- Empathy development
Canines in Court
Stress of the Courtroom
Stress of the Courtroom
- The number of court cases involving children as witnesses has increased over the past few decades
- Children are often victims of crimes and their testimony can be crucial to prosecution
- Testifying can be very difficult for a child due to guilt or shame about what happened and the legal process can be traumatic
- Even a child who wants to testify may be anxious or afraid
- Fear and anxiety can impair ability to testify and if a child is unable to testify then there is a risk that the case will be dropped
Benefit of Support Dogs
Canines as Support
- Working with dogs can make stressful or tense situations easier
- Provides a positive avenue for children to express their emotions in a calm way and in a supportive environment
- Decreased anxiety and physiological stress
- Increased focus
- A dog provides a safe and non-threatening touch
Dogs Used for Support in Court Cases
Court Cases
- Courts across the country use therapy dogs as support for testifying witnesses
- Relatively few states have laws in place which specifically address their use
- Federal and state legislation exists which recognizes the unique position of a child witness and provides protection for their well-being
- Victims of Child Abuse Act: gives alternative methods of obtaining testimony from children who are unable to testify
- Videotaped testimony
- Support person
- Aids such as drawings, stuffed animals, or puppets
- The following cases are instances where the use of therapy dogs in court to support child witnesses was contested by the defendant, and the outcomes of each case
Appellate Case Law
- People v. Chenault [California]: 2 child witnesses testified with the presence of a support dog. Chenault argued in his appeal that the court abused their discretion
- People v Spence [Washington]: Spence was convicted of sexual offenses against a child under the age of 10. On appeal he argued the use of a support dog
- Connecticut v. Devon D. [Connecticut]: daughter of the defendant testified with a support dog after the judge ruled it would allow her to better testify
- People v. Johnson [Michigan]: Johnson appealed convictions of criminal sexual assault of his six-year-old niece. The appeal included contest against the use of a support dog for the witness
- People v. Tohom [New York]: Tohom contested the use of a support dog for a 15 year old victim of predatory sexual assault
Court Cases
Appellate Case Law Cont.
Appelate Case Law Cont.
- Ohio v. George [Ohio]: George argued in his appeal that the court abused its discretion by allowing two child witnesses below the age of 10 to use a support dog
- State v. Jacobs [Ohio]: a 17 year old witness requested the use of a support dog and it was granted by the judge. Jacobs argued its use in his appeal
- State v. Reyes [Tennessee]: Reyes was convicted of the rape of a 10 year old. Before the trial he filed a motion to exclude a support dog from the courtroom
- Lambeth v. Texas [Texas]: Lambeth was convicted of sexual abuse and aggravated assault of a child. On appeal he contested the use of a support dog for the witness
To date, every appellate court decision regarding the use of a support dog for a minor witness, has affirmed the use of a therapy dog as an accommodation.
Concerns Regarding Courthouse Dogs
- The most common concern is that having a dog present may prejudice the jury against the defendant and infringe on their constitutional right to a fair trial
- A study conducted by McQuiston et al. in 2016 found that presence of a dog had no statistically significant effect on jury perception of the defendant
- Courts require a showing of necessity for the dog
- Jury is usually informed as to the use of the dog and instructed to ignore it
- The animal may be a distraction
- Animal can be positioned to reduce view
- Dogs must be trained and registered therapy dogs
Laws and Statutes
- There is no national standard for the requirements of therapy dogs to be used in court
- Many states or local courts have established statutes concerning their use during trials and court proceedings
- States with laws regarding use of therapy dogs for minor witnesses:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
Laws and Statutes
Common Factors of Laws Surrounding Therapy Dogs in Court
Therapy Dog Laws
- Certification from an assistance or therapy dog program
- Some states have a minimum amount of training required e.g. 2 years (Arkansas)
- A trained handler must accompany the dog
- Showing of necessity of the therapy dog by the party requesting it
- Instruction of the jury and minimizing visual presence of the dog in the courtroom
Courthouse Dogs Act
- Republican Senator John Cornyn (Texas)
- Proposed to the senate, has passed and been introduced to the House where it is currently waiting on a vote
- Would allow federal courts to use licensed or certified therapy dogs during court proceedings
- Stipulates the dog must be accompanied by a trained handler
- Gives federal courts the ability to impose additional restrictions as necessary to preserve the fairness of the trial
Courthouse Dogs Act
Future Directions
- The benefits of canine-assisted therapy are well documented
- There are few research studies on the use of therapy dogs in the courtroom
- Most cases are anecdotal
- General perception by the court towards support dogs is a positive one
- More studies are necessary to document benefits
- Support dogs may begin to be categorized in the eyes of the legal system as people
- Laws will need to be created to ensure mutual benefit for all parties involved
IN BRIEF
In Brief
- Canine assisted therapy has been shown to have physical, physiological, social, and emotional benefits
- The use of therapy animals in court provides support for children who feel fear or anxiety about testifying
- A support animal gives a child the support they need in the courtroom
- There are statutes and laws surrounding use of therapy dogs in court but they are minimal
- There is no unified legislation although many courts have a framework in place
- People recognize the benefits of therapy dogs and their use is becoming more widespread
Works Cited
Works Cited
- 12 Okl.St.Ann. § 2611.12, 2014.
- Access Now Inc. v. Town of Jasper, 268 F.Supp.2d 973, 26 NDLR P 107 (E.D.Tenn.,2003). https://www.animallaw.info/case/access-now-inc-v-town-jasper-tennessee
- Anderson v. City of Blue Ash, 798 F.3d 338 (6th Cir. 2015). https://www.animallaw.info/case/anderson-v-city-blue-ash
- Appellate Case Law. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://courthousedogs.org/legal/appellate-case-law/
- Ark. Code Ann. § 16-43-1002, 2015.
- Bassette, L. A., & Taber-Doughty, T. (2013, June). The effects of a dog reading visitation program on academic engagement behavior in three elementary students with emotional and behavioral disabilities: A single case design. In Child & Youth Care Forum (Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 239-256). Springer US.
- Beetz, A., Julius, H., Turner, D., & Kotrschal, K. (2012). Effects of social support by a dog on stress modulation in male children with insecure attachment. Frontiers in psychology, 3, 352.
- Beetz, A., Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Julius, H., & Kotrschal, K. (2012). Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin. Frontiers in psychology, 3, 234.
- Berry, A., Borgi, M., Francia, N., Alleva, E., & Cirulli, F. (2013). Use of assistance and therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorders: A critical review of the current evidence. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 19(2), 73-80.
Works Cited
- Booten, A. E. (2011). Effects of animal-assisted therapy on behavior and reading in the classroom. Retrieved from http://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=etd.
- Chavez v. Aber, 122 F. Supp. 3d 581 (W.D. Tex. 2015). https://www.animallaw.info/case/chavez-v-aber
- Clark, S. D., Smidt, J. M., & Bauer, B. A. (2019). Welfare considerations: Salivary cortisol concentrations on frequency of therapy dog visits in an outpatient hospital setting: A pilot study. Journal of veterinary behavior, 30, 88-91.
- Cortisol. (2013, October 24). Retrieved January 13, 2020, from http://www/yourhormones.info/hormones/cortisol.aspx
- Courthouse Dogs Act, S. 1029, 116th Cong. (2019).
- Daly, B., & Suggs, S. (2010). Teachers experiences with humane education and animals in the elementary classroom: implications for empathy development. Journal of Moral Education, 39(1), 101–112. doi: 10.1080/03057240903528733
- Diamond, A., and Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science 333, 959–964.
- Endenburg, N., & Lith, H. A. V. (2011). The influence of animals on the development of children. The Veterinary Journal, 190(2), 208–214. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.020
- Esposito, L., McCune, S., Griffin, J. A., & Maholmes, V. (2011). Directions in human–animal interaction research: Child development, health, and therapeutic interventions. Child Development Perspectives, 5(3), 205-211.
Works Cited
- Friesen, L. (2010). Exploring animal-assisted programs with children in school and therapeutic contexts. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37(4), 261-267.
- Friesen, L. (2010). Potential for the role of school-based animal-assisted literacy mentoring programs. Language and Literacy, 12(1), 21-37.
- Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, 137 S.Ct. 743 (U.S., 2017). https://www.animallaw.info/case/fry-v-napoleon-community-schools
- Geist, T. S. (2011). Conceptual Framework for Animal Assisted Therapy. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28(3), 243–256. doi: 10.1007/s10560-011-0231-3
- Glenk, L. M., Kothgassner, O. D., Stetina, B. U., Palme, R., Kepplinger, B., & Baran, H. (2013). Therapy dogs’ salivary cortisol levels vary during animal-assisted interventions. Animal Welfare, 22(3), 369-378.
- Glenk, L. M., Kothgassner, O. D., Stetina, B. U., Palme, R., Kepplinger, B., & Baran, H. (2014). Salivary cortisol and behavior in therapy dogs during animal-assisted interventions: A pilot study. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 9(3), 98-106.
- Glenk, L. M. (2017). Current perspectives on therapy dog welfare in animal-assisted interventions. Animals, 7(2), 7.
- Holder, C. (2013). All dogs go to court: The impact of court facility dogs as comfort for child witnesses on defendants right to fair trial. Houston Law Review, 50(4), 1155-1188
- HUD.gov. Assistance Animals: HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animals
Works Cited
- I.C. § 19-3023, 2019.
- Jenkins, C. D., Laux, J. M., Ritchie, M. H., & Tucker-Gail, K. (2014). Animal-assisted therapy and Rogers’ core components among middle school students receiving counseling services: A descriptive study. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 9(2), 174-187.
- Kirnan, J., Siminerio, S., & Wong, Z. (2016). The impact of a therapy dog program on children’s reading skills and attitudes toward reading. Early Childhood Education Journal, 44(6), 637-651.
- Kirnan, J., Ventresco, N. E., & Gardner, T. (2018). The impact of a therapy dog program on children’s reading: Follow-up and extension to ELL students. Early Childhood Education Journal, 46(1), 103-116.
- Lang, U. E., Jansen, J. B., Wertenauer, F., Gallinat, J., and Rapp, M. A. (2010). Reduced anxiety during dog assisted interviews in acute schizophrenic patients. Eur. J. Integr. Med. 2, 123–127.
- Lijewski, A. (2015, Nov 4). Personal interview.
- Linder, D.E., Mueller, M.K., Gibbs, D.M. et al. Effects of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Reading Skills and Attitudes in Second Grade Students. Early Childhood Educ J 46, 323–329 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-017-0862-x
- LSA-R.S. 15:284, 2018.
- Mandal, A. (2010, January 10). Dopamine Functions. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from http://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx
Works Cited
- McCullough, A., Jenkins, M. A., Ruehrdanz, A., Gilmer, M. J., Olson, J., Pawar, A., ... & Grossman, N. J. (2018). Physiological and behavioral effects of animal-assisted interventions on therapy dogs in pediatric oncology settings. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 200, 86-95.
- McCune, S., Kruger, K., Griffin, J., Esposito, L., Freund, L., Hurley, K., & Bures, R. (2014, December 22). Evolution of Research into the Mutual Benefits of Human–animal Interaction. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from https://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/af/articles/4/3/49
- McQuiston, D. E., Burd, K., & Hayton, C. G. (2016, July). Utilizing courthouse dogs and comfort items to assist vulnerable witnesses during trial. Retrieved from https://www.apadivisions.org/division- 41/publications/newsletters/news/2016/07/courthouse-dogs
- Myers, D. (2011). Psychology Second Edition for AP. New York: Worth Publishers.
- Obrusnikova, I., Bibik, J. M., Cavalier, A. R., & Manley, K. (2012). Integrating therapy dog teams in a physical activity program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 83(6), 37-48.
- Ohio v. George, 2014-Ohio-5781 (App. Ct, 2014). https://www.animallaw.info/case/ohio-v-george
- Oxytocin. (2015, March 31). Retrieved January 14, 2020, from http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/oxytocin.aspx
- Palestrini, C., Calcaterra, V., Cannas, S., Talamonti, Z., Papotti, F., Buttram, D., & Pelizzo, G. (2017). Stress level evaluation in a dog during animal-assisted therapy in pediatric surgery. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 17, 44-49.
Works Cited
- Palley, L. S., Orourke, P. P., & Niemi, S. M. (2010). Mainstreaming Animal-Assisted Therapy. ILAR Journal, 51(3), 199–207. doi: 10.1093/ilar.51.3.199
- People v. Chenault, 227 Cal. App. 4th 1503, review filed (Aug. 25, 2014). https://www.animallaw.info/case/people-v-chenault
- People v. Johnson, 889 N.W.2d 513 (2016), appeal denied, 500 Mich. 951, 891 N.W.2d 231 (2017). https://www.animallaw.info/case/people-v-johnson-0
- People v. Tohom, 969 N.Y.S.2d 123 (N.Y.A.D. 2 Dept.,2013). https://www.animallaw.info/case/people-v-tohom
- Schoenfeld-Tacher, R., Hellyer, P., Cheung, L., & Kogan, L. (2017). Public Perceptions of Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs, and Therapy Dogs. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(6), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060642
- Terminology. (2020). Retrieved from https://petpartners.org/
- Schuck, S. E., Emmerson, N. A., Fine, A. H., & Lakes, K. D. (2015). Canine-assisted therapy for children with ADHD: preliminary findings from the positive assertive cooperative kids study. Journal of attention disorders, 19(2), 125-137.
- Seivert, N. P., Cano, A., Casey, R. J., Johnson, A., & May, D. K. (2018). Animal assisted therapy for incarcerated youth: A randomized controlled trial. Applied developmental science, 22(2), 139-153.
- State v. Devon D., 2015 WL 6180908 (2015). https://www.animallaw.info/case/connecticut-v-devon-d
Works Cited
- State v. Reyes, 2016 WL 3090904 (2016). https://www.animallaw.info/case/state-v-reyes
- Stefanini, M. C., Martino, A., Bacci, B., & Tani, F. (2016). The effect of animal-assisted therapy on emotional and behavioral symptoms in children and adolescents hospitalized for acute mental disorders. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 8(2), 81-88.
- Taylor, N., Fraser, H., Signal, T., & Prentice, K. (2014). Social work, animal-assisted therapies and ethical considerations: A programme example from Central Queensland, Australia. The British Journal of Social Work, 46(1), 135-152.
- Tsai, C. C., Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. A. (2010). The effect of animal-assisted therapy on stress responses in hospitalized children. Anthrozoös, 23(3), 245-258.
- U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/resources- tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics
- VanFleet, R., & Faa-Thompson, T. (2010). The case for using animal assisted play therapy. British journal of play therapy, 6, 4-18.
- Victims of Child Abuse Act. 34 USC Ch. 203, 113th Cong. (1990).
- Weems, N. (2013). Real or Fake: Animals Can Make a Difference in Child Abuse Proceedings. Mid-Atlantic J. on L. & Pub. Pol'y, 2, 117.
- West's Ann.Cal.Penal Code § 868.4, 2018.
Choose a template
Presentations from around the world
Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi