The Use of Facility Dogs to Bridge the Justice Gap for Survivors of Sexual Offending

Elizabeth Spruin, Katarina Mozova, Tammy Dempster and Rachel Freeman
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Elizabeth Spruin: Department of Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UK
Katarina Mozova: Department of Policing, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UK
Tammy Dempster: Department of Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury CT1 1QU, UK
Rachel Freeman: Kent Police, Maidstone ME15 9BZ, UK

Social Sciences, 2020, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: The current study investigated the support that a facility dog can provide to survivors of sexual crimes when undergoing video-recorded police interviews. In total, 13 survivors of sexual offences, who were undergoing a video-recorded interview, were provided with a facility dog for the interview process. For each case, data were collected via interviews, observations and surveys. Using a multiple case study approach, qualitative data were analysed to identify patterns, with observational and survey data used to provide further support to these outcomes. A total of four main themes emerged from the data: (1) a change in focus for the survivor, (2) a difference in the survivors’ engagement, (3) the dog as a comforter to keep the survivor calm and (4) a positive environment. Overall, the findings suggest that the facility dog provided a much needed and beneficial service to survivors, helping them feel calmer and more comfortable. The dog also provided survivors with a more positive environment, allowing them to focus on the interview and communicate more openly about their experiences. The current study, therefore, presents very positive findings relating to improving survivors’ perspectives of justice within the framework of kaleidoscopic justice, bridging their perceived justice gap.

Keywords: facility dogs; video-recorded interview; survivors of sexual offences; kaleidoscopic justice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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