Kids, courts, canines: can justice facility dogs like Winston help children and the broader court system?

Winston, a justice facility dog trained by Guide Dogs WA. David French/Edith Cowan University, CC BY-ND

The recent focus on youth crime in Australia may create a perception that all children in court have offended. But of course, children are also in courts because they have been victims of and/or witnesses to criminal events.

Children can be required to give evidence in these situations. Often, they have suffered or are still suffering the trauma associated with those events.