Miller-Meeks & Scanlon Introduce Legislation to Support Trauma Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, June 24th, 2021, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced the bipartisan Courtroom Dogs Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would grant the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to develop best practice guidelines for the use of specially trained dogs in federal courts to support trauma victims during testimony.
This legislation is the House companion to S. 2121, which was introduced earlier this month by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
“Testifying and appearing in court can be a difficult and stressful endeavor, particularly when discussing traumatic events. We should aid witnesses to be calm and comfortable during testimony, especially when they may be face-to-face with their assailant,” said Miller-Meeks. “The Courtroom Dogs Act is an excellent step to support witnesses while in court. I appreciate Rep. Scanlon for partnering with me on this issue, and I look forward to working with her, as well as Senators Cornyn and Feinstein, to see this legislation become law.”
“Before I came to Congress, I spent 30 years as a public interest lawyer, representing women, families, and children. One of the challenges of representing victims of crime and abuse, particularly children, is that testifying in court can be scary and inflict additional trauma,” said Scanlon. “Allowing a witness to have the comfort of a therapy dog is one small step we can take to ensure our most vulnerable victims have the support they need when testifying. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside my colleague Rep. Miller-Meeks and grateful to Senators Cornyn and Feinstein for their work on this bipartisan, bicameral bill.”
Background:
The Courtroom Dogs Actwould require the DOJ to issue guidelines for consistent practice when using dogs in court. These guidelines would ensure more witnesses have access to therapy dogs, there is no prejudice or risk to legal proceeding participants, and court proceedings function well.
The use of certified courthouse dogs in the courtroom as a mechanism for calming and supporting individuals involved in court proceedings has expanded rapidly in the United States. The scientific evidence for the physical and mental calming effects of appropriately bred and trained dogs is overwhelming.
To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.
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