4 months ago
8
CONWAY, Ark. – Roxy is a courthouse facility dog that has helped over 150 children in Arkansas share their story with prosecutors and in the witness box.
"When a victim comes in, particularly a child, so much trauma has already happened, and the judicial process can be re-traumatizing if you’re not careful for that victim, and so a dog provides a comfort without asking anything in return," Roxy's Certified Facility Dog Handler Fawn Borden said.
PAWS for Justice is a program that aids by using facility dogs to participate in forensic interviews, police interviews, medical exams, prosecutor meetings, and trial proceedings. The dogs help ease and calm the victims and witnesses.
Roxy is one of four courthouse facility dogs in Arkansas. During her year and a half of facilitation, she has helped pave the way for change and helped around 150 children.
"We found where sometimes prosecutors were a little apprehensive to try something new, but once they used the dog, they really saw the benefit of having the dog present for meetings, for trial prep and then in a trial," Borden said.
Borden is also the assistant program...
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