Dogs in the criminal justice system: consideration of facility and therapy dogs

Journal article


Spruin, L. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2018. Dogs in the criminal justice system: consideration of facility and therapy dogs. Pet Behaviour Science. 5, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.v0i5.10084
AuthorsSpruin, L. and Ozcakir Mozova, K.
Abstract

It is known that the criminal justice process is most often perceived as a negative experience by victims, witnesses, as well as defendants. Whilst measures have been put into place across the globe to improve their experiences, there is still much more which needs to be done, especially as the process can involve secondary victimisation of those participating in it and prolonged trauma.

The current opinion piece centres on the use of trained dogs to help the experiences of criminal justice system users during active cases. Whilst this practice is mostly used in North America, hints at bringing varying types of dogs into the criminal justice system are visible elsewhere, too. With the criminal justice users in mind, it is key to establish, from the offset, the positives of such service, but also be very aware of its limitations and challenges, in order for the service delivering what it aims without causing a disruption to the criminal justice process or its users.

This piece provides a theoretical and practical analysis of topics surrounding the use of specially trained dogs to support criminal justice system users with the view of highlighting our lack of knowledge on the topic and practical challenges of this service.

KeywordsTherapy dog; facility dog; court; police interview; criminal justice
Year2018
JournalPet Behaviour Science
Journal citation5, pp. 1-12
ISSN2445-2874
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.v0i5.10084
Publication dates
Print01 Jun 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited05 Apr 2018
Accepted17 Mar 2018
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Additional information

Open Access
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88q5y/dogs-in-the-criminal-justice-system-consideration-of-facility-and-therapy-dogs

  • 1108
    total views
  • 1052
    total downloads
  • 15
    views this month
  • 21
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Public protection and victims and witnesses
Dickens, T. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2024. Public protection and victims and witnesses. in: Wood, D., Bradshaw, S., Dickens, T. and Parker-Mcleod, J. (ed.) Blackstone's Handbook for Policing Students Oxford University Press.
Examining the effects of animal assisted activities against standard treatment in a university setting
Spruin, L., Islam, S., Wornast, T. and Dempster, T. 2023. Examining the effects of animal assisted activities against standard treatment in a university setting. Pet Behaviour Science. https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.vi14.15225
Bonds in gangs: understanding the importance of group processes within street gangs
Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2023. Bonds in gangs: understanding the importance of group processes within street gangs. in: Psychology of Gang Involvement Abingdon Routledge.
Facility dogs in UK courtrooms: Public perspective
Dempster, Tammy, Spruin, Liz and Mozova, Katarina 2022. Facility dogs in UK courtrooms: Public perspective. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2022.2133662
Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK
Spruin, E., Dunleavy, T., Mitchell, C. and Siesmaa, B. 2022. Investigating the criminal thinking styles of mentally disordered offenders within the UK. Journal of Forensic Practice. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-03-2022-0014
Mitigating the risk of contract cheating in UK higher education: A multi-level solution
Spruin, E. 2022. Mitigating the risk of contract cheating in UK higher education: A multi-level solution. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies. 3 (1), pp. 109-120. https://doi.org/10.52547/johepal.3.1.109
Justice facility dogs - Oliver's story
Spruin, E 2021. Justice facility dogs - Oliver's story. in: The Survivor Memoirs: Childhood Sexual Abuse Direct Publishing. pp. 165-180
Preventing and countering CSE in SE Kent school-based peer mentorship schemes
Bryant, R., Christie, S., Heaton, R., Ozcakir Mozova, K. and Ms Becky Thomson 2020. Preventing and countering CSE in SE Kent school-based peer mentorship schemes.
The effects of a therapy dog vs mindfulness vs a student advisor on student anxiety and well-being
Spruin, E., Dempster, T., Islam, S. and Raybould, I. 2020. The effects of a therapy dog vs mindfulness vs a student advisor on student anxiety and well-being. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 45 (5), pp. 588-600. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2020.1804535
The use of facility dogs to bridge the justice gap for survivors of sexual offending
Spruin, E., Ozcakir Mozova, K., Dempster, T. and Freeman, R. 2020. The use of facility dogs to bridge the justice gap for survivors of sexual offending. Social Sciences. 9 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9060096
Facility dogs as a tool for building rapport and credibility with child witnesses
Spruin, E., Dempster, T. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2020. Facility dogs as a tool for building rapport and credibility with child witnesses. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice.
Investigative challenges relating to gang-related homicide: senior investigating officers’ perspectives
Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2019. Investigative challenges relating to gang-related homicide: senior investigating officers’ perspectives. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice. 5 (3), pp. 189-201. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-04-2019-0024/full/html
Exploring the impact of specially trained dogs on the court experiences of survivors of sexual offending in England and Wales: an exploratory case study
Spruin, L., Ozcakir Mozova, K., Dempster, T. and Mitchell, S. 2019. Exploring the impact of specially trained dogs on the court experiences of survivors of sexual offending in England and Wales: an exploratory case study. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. pp. 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-019-09419-1
The use of therapy dogs to support court users in the waiting room
Spruin, L., Ozcakir Mozova, K., Franz, A., Mitchell, S., Fernandez, A., Dempster, T. and Holt, N. 2019. The use of therapy dogs to support court users in the waiting room. International Criminal Justice Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/1057567719827063
Psychological and behavioural characteristics that distinguish street gang members in custody
Alleyne, E., Wood, J., Ozcakir Mozova, K. and James, M. 2014. Psychological and behavioural characteristics that distinguish street gang members in custody. Legal and Criminological Psychology. 21, pp. 266-285. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12072
Predicting involvement in prison gang activity: street gang membership, social and psychological factors
Wood, J., Alleyne, E., Ozcakir Mozova, K. and James, M. 2014. Predicting involvement in prison gang activity: street gang membership, social and psychological factors. Law and Human Behavior. 38 (3), pp. 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000053
An exploration into the acceptance of male rape myths within the UK
Spruin, L. and Reilly, L. 2018. An exploration into the acceptance of male rape myths within the UK. Journal of Forensic Sciences and Criminal Investigation. 9 (3). https://doi.org/10.19080/FSCI.2018.09.555763
Specially trained dogs in the UK criminal justice system
Spruin, L. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2018. Specially trained dogs in the UK criminal justice system. Seen and Heard. 28 (1), pp. 63-67.
The benefits of therapy dogs on student well-being within a UK university
Islam, S., Spruin, L. and Fernandez, A. 2017. The benefits of therapy dogs on student well-being within a UK university. Psychology and Behavioural Sciences International Journal. 7, pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.19080/PBSIJ.2017.07.555702
Helping criminal justice system users: utilising specially trained dogs
Spruin, L. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2017. Helping criminal justice system users: utilising specially trained dogs.
Improving the student experience in higher education: an action research approach to implementing collaborative learning strategies
Spruin, L. and Abbott, N. 2017. Improving the student experience in higher education: an action research approach to implementing collaborative learning strategies. Innovative Practice in Higher Education. 3, pp. 65-90.
The emotional experience of mentally disordered offenders (MDO): an exploratory study using smallest space analysis (SSA)
Spruin, L. and Siesmaa, B. 2017. The emotional experience of mentally disordered offenders (MDO): an exploratory study using smallest space analysis (SSA). Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. 17, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228932.2017.1277678
Using specially trained dogs in the Criminal Justice System
Spruin, L. and Ozcakir Mozova, K. 2017. Using specially trained dogs in the Criminal Justice System. Forensic Update.
Sexual offenders' experiences of polygraph testing: a thematic study in three probation trusts
Spruin, L., Wood, J., Gannon, T. and Tyler, N. 2017. Sexual offenders' experiences of polygraph testing: a thematic study in three probation trusts. Journal of Sexual Aggression. 3, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2017.1378025
The use of dogs in the courtroom
Spruin, L., Holt, N., Fernandez, A. and Franz, A. 2016. The use of dogs in the courtroom. in: Klein, A. (ed.) Crime and Criminal Behaviour Nova Science Publishers. pp. 1-16
Female firesetters: gender associated psychological and psychopathological features
Alleyne, E., Gannon, T., Ozcakir Mozova, K., Page, T. and O Ciardha, C. 2016. Female firesetters: gender associated psychological and psychopathological features. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes. 79 (4), pp. 364-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.2016.1185892
Pets in the courtroom
Spruin, L. and BBC Essex Radio 2015. Pets in the courtroom.
Exploring the belief systems of domestic abuse victims using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA)
Spruin, L., Alleyne, E., Baker, R., Papadaki, I. and Franz, A. 2017. Exploring the belief systems of domestic abuse victims using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice. 3 (1), pp. 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-10-2016-0028
The criminal experience of mentally disordered offenders
Spruin, L. and Siesmaa, B. 2016. The criminal experience of mentally disordered offenders. in: Klein, A. (ed.) Crime and Criminal Behaviour Nova Science Publishers. pp. 11-30
Animal Welfare: Domestic pets – written evidence (AWF 238)
Franz, A., Ashdown, L., Fernandez, A., Holt, N. and Spruin, L. 2016. Animal Welfare: Domestic pets – written evidence (AWF 238).
Specialist group therapy for firesetting behaviour: evidence of a treatment effect from a non-randomised pilot trial with male prisoners
Gannon, T., Alleyne, E., Butler, H., Danby, H., Kapoor, A., Lovell, T., Ozcakir Mozova, K., Spruin, L., Tostevin, T., Tyler, N. and O'Ciardha, C. 2015. Specialist group therapy for firesetting behaviour: evidence of a treatment effect from a non-randomised pilot trial with male prisoners. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 73, pp. 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2015.07.007
Written evidence submitted to Commons Select Committee Animal Welfare Inquiry
Franz, A., Ashdown, L., Fernandez, A., Hirst, L., Holt, N., Moore, H. and Spruin, L. 2016. Written evidence submitted to Commons Select Committee Animal Welfare Inquiry. www.parliament.uk.
Dogs in the courtroom
Spruin, L., Holt, N., Fernandez, A. and Franz, A. 2016. Dogs in the courtroom. in: Crime and Criminal Behaviour New York Nova Science Publishers.
The use of dogs in the courtroom
Spruin, L., Holt, N., Fernandez, A. and Franz, A. 2016. The use of dogs in the courtroom. in: Klein, A. (ed.) Crime and Criminal Behaviour Nova Science Publishers.
The evaluation of a summer youth scheme for children with disabilities: a brief report on the findings from an evaluation of the Special Needs Advisoryand Activities Project (SNAAP)
Spruin, L. and Abbott, N. 2014. The evaluation of a summer youth scheme for children with disabilities: a brief report on the findings from an evaluation of the Special Needs Advisoryand Activities Project (SNAAP).
Examining the experiences of a short break scheme amongst adolescents with disabilities (service users) and their parents
Spruin, L., Abbott, N. and Holt, N. 2017. Examining the experiences of a short break scheme amongst adolescents with disabilities (service users) and their parents. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. 64, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2017.1348599
Criminal narratives of mentally disordered offenders: an exploratory study
Spruin, L., Canter, D., Youngs, D. and Siesmaa, B. 2014. Criminal narratives of mentally disordered offenders: an exploratory study. Criminal Narratives of Mentally Disordered Offenders: An Exploratory Study. 14 (5), pp. 438-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228932.2014.965987
Investigative psychology
Youngs, D. and Spruin, L. 2014. Investigative psychology. in: Bruinsma, G. and Weisburd, D. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice New York Springer. pp. 2391-2706
Domestic abuse victims’ perceptions of abuse and support: a narrative study
Spruin, L., Alleyne, E. and Papadaki, I. 2015. Domestic abuse victims’ perceptions of abuse and support: a narrative study. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice. 1 (1), pp. 19-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-10-2014-0002
Criminal narratives of mentally disordered offenders
Spruin, L., Siesmaa, B., Spruin, L. and Youngs, D. 2013. Criminal narratives of mentally disordered offenders.
Deconstructing the personal narrative through offending behaviour and interpersonal style
Spruin, L. and Siesmaa, B. 2012. Deconstructing the personal narrative through offending behaviour and interpersonal style.
The criminal experience of mentally disordered offenders
Spruin, L. 2013. The criminal experience of mentally disordered offenders. PhD Thesis University of Huddersfield International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology