Courtroom dog coming to McLean County

Posted on January 21, 2016

Courtroom dogs are meant to provide comfort to victims of abuse. (Flickr)

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – Children who have been exposed to trauma will soon be comforted by a courtroom dog. Courtroom dogs were made legal by a new law that went into effect January 1st.

Judy Brucker is with the Children’s Advocacy Center.

“It’s an amazing thing to see in action,” said Brucker. “When you have a child, imagine, you have a small child or any child in the courtroom it’s a very nerve-racking experience. They’re up on the witness stand and they are fidgeting.”

The dog will be shared by the Children’s Advocacy center and the prosecutor’s office. Many of the children served by the dog have been victims of sexual abuse.

McLean county is still on a waiting list for the dog.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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