Victims Rights Advocacy group, Community VOICES announces plans for a pilot program to introduce the first therapy dog program for child victims of crime.

 Victims Rights Advocacy group, Community VOICES announces plans for a pilot program to introduce the  first therapy dog  program for child victims of crime



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:  Laurie Myers
Community VOICES
617-515-2079
lmyers@communityvoices.net
communityvoices.net
 Victims Rights Advocacy group, Community VOICES announces plans for a pilot program to introduce the  first therapy dog program for child victims of crime. 

April 25, 2011, Massachusetts– Community VOICES (Voices of Involved Citizens Encouraging Safety), a non-profit organization established in 2004 by a group of citizens committed to victims of violent crime and the keeping communities safe through advocacy, education and awareness, announces a new pilot program to introduce the first assistance dog trained to work with child victims of crime.   

Since 2003, assistance dogs have provided comfort to sexually abused children and other victims of violent crime while they undergo forensic interviews and testify in court across the country. Some assistance dog programs have also assisted drug court participants in their recovery, visited juveniles in detention facilities, greet jurors and lift the spirits of courthouse staff who often conduct their business in an adversarial setting.

The use of assistance dogs can help bring about a major change in how we meet the emotional needs of all involved in the criminal justice system. The dog’s calming presence creates a more humane and efficient system that enables judges, lawyers, and staff to accomplish their work in a more positive and constructive manner.

Having supported victims and their families through hundreds of court proceedings over the years, VOICES has experienced first-hand the trauma and impact that the victims face while working with the judicial system after the crime has been committed.  Because of this, we look forward to achieving our goal of introducing the first crime victim assistance dog program to Massachusetts and look forward to introducing the dogs to Massachusetts in a demonstration tentatively scheduled for August. More information will be available soon. 

For more information about this program and how you can help, please contact Laurie Myers at 617-515-2079 or lmyers@communityvoices.net