Susanna. Mitchell

Bio: Susanna. Mitchell is an academic researcher from Canterbury Christ Church University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Criminal justice & Magistrate. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 9 citations.

The Use of Therapy Dogs to Support Court Users in the Waiting Room

Abstract: The use of animals to support individuals' wellbeing has been documented across a variety of disciplines. It has been over a decade since dogs have also started to be used within the criminal justice setting in America to support vulnerable people, but this practice is not common in the United Kingdom. Globally, empirical evidence to support the benefits of utilising dogs within the criminal justice system is lacking. The present interdisciplinary study aimed to explore one aspect of the criminal justice journey, the impact a therapy dog can have on UK court users waiting to give evidence at a magistrate's court. 117 court users and 8 court staff were interviewed to explore their perceptions of a therapy dog service offered at a local magistrates’ court. Using thematic analysis, three main themes were discovered: (1) Context of the court environment, (2) Effect of the therapy dog on well-being, and (3) Issues relating to therapy dogs in court waiting areas. Results suggests that therapy dogs have a number of benefits to court users. Long-term, the human-canine interaction positively translates into the court waiting room environment and so it should be further explored, evaluated and then appropriately implemented in the UK’s legal system.

Exploring the impact of specially trained dogs on the court experiences of survivors of sexual offending in England and Wales: an exploratory case study

Abstract: The current research explored the impact of specially trained dogs on the experiences of survivors of sexual offending in an English and Welsh court environment. In total, five cases of survivors of sexual offences were provided with a specially trained dog during court proceedings. In each case, data were collected from several sources, including interviews, observations and various documentations. Using a thorough multiple case study design, data were analysed both within and across each case to identify any individual and thematic patterns. The within-case analysis found that the dog aided survivors in becoming calmer and less anxious. The across-case analysis indicated five reoccurring themes pertaining to the survivor: (1) Impact of court context, (2) Emotional impact of dog on survivors, (3) Physical impact of dog on survivors, (4) Change in anchoring due to presence of the dog, (5) The uniqueness of a dog as a companion. The findings also highlighted important considerations when utilising such services to support survivors at court. Overall, these results identified a large amount of benefits to not only the survivors, but also their families and other supporting individuals, providing the first global evaluation of such service for survivors of sexual offending which should aid in considering the introduction of this service internationally. It is thus recommended that the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales explores the use of this service further.

Using Dogs for Emotional Support of Testifying Victims of Crime

Abstract: Across the country, courts and prosecutorial offices have begun to use dogs to assist victims of crimes who but for the demonstrated calming presence of a dog would be too emotionally distraught to give live testimony in trials against their alleged perpetrators. The use of service animals for this purpose has proven particularly useful for young children. This article examines the budding use of this type of therapeutic jurisprudence in the criminal justice system. Recognizing that using dogs for emotional support during trial finds no clear recognition under the law yet, the article analyzes how proponents may draw analogies to the current use of comfort items such as dolls during the presentation of testimony.The article concludes that sound legal and public policy reasons exist for allowing the use of service dogs to assist emotionally traumatized witnesses giving testimony in open court, but only in cases where the witness can present a truly compelling need for such support.

Facility dogs as a tool for building rapport and credibility with child witnesses

Abstract: The present student examined the perspectives of legal professionals in relation to the use of facility dogs in building rapport and credibility with child witnesses. 70 legal professionals from across North America, who had experience interviewing children, both with and without the use of a facility dog, were recruited to take part in the study. Utilising a holistic mixed-method design, data was collected via an online questionnaire, which asked participants about the impact they felt a facility dog had on rapport and witness credibility during police interviews with children. The results highlighted the positive impact that facility dogs have on child witnesses, not only in helping build rapport and witness credibility, but also for creating a more positive experience for young witnesses going through the criminal justice process. The results therefore provide evidence for the consideration of these dogs in countries beyond North America, as they provide an invaluable service to young witnesses.

Exploring the impact of specially trained dogs on the court experiences of survivors of sexual offending in England and Wales: an exploratory case study

Abstract: The current research explored the impact of specially trained dogs on the experiences of survivors of sexual offending in an English and Welsh court environment. In total, five cases of survivors of sexual offences were provided with a specially trained dog during court proceedings. In each case, data were collected from several sources, including interviews, observations and various documentations. Using a thorough multiple case study design, data were analysed both within and across each case to identify any individual and thematic patterns. The within-case analysis found that the dog aided survivors in becoming calmer and less anxious. The across-case analysis indicated five reoccurring themes pertaining to the survivor: (1) Impact of court context, (2) Emotional impact of dog on survivors, (3) Physical impact of dog on survivors, (4) Change in anchoring due to presence of the dog, (5) The uniqueness of a dog as a companion. The findings also highlighted important considerations when utilising such services to support survivors at court. Overall, these results identified a large amount of benefits to not only the survivors, but also their families and other supporting individuals, providing the first global evaluation of such service for survivors of sexual offending which should aid in considering the introduction of this service internationally. It is thus recommended that the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales explores the use of this service further.