Rosie the Courtroom Dog

Should therapy dogs be allowed in the courtroom as support for victims?

Rosie the courtroom dog was cute, fuzzy -- and controversial. "Rosie is a golden retriever therapy dog who specializes in comforting people when they are under stress. Both prosecutors and defense lawyers have described her as adorable, though she has been known to slobber" (Glaberson 2011). An example of how Rosie was used can be seen in the trial of a rapist of a fourteen-year-old girl. The girl was able to hold Rosie and pet her while she testified. Advocates of 'Rosies' suggest that dogs can provide helpful emotional sustenance to vulnerable defendants, especially children, when they are struggling with uncomfortable memories. However, opponents of therapy dogs argue that they can unfairly slant the jury against a defendant simply by their presence, regardless of the person's true guilt or innocence. "Defense lawyers argue that...
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