Through their authority to issue protection and restraining orders, to remove children from abusive homes, and to order youthful offenders into treatment or secure placement, judges use the power of the courts to respond to cruelty and abuse, to protect victims and prevent future harm. Judges also have the opportunity to take measures to safeguard the wellbeing of an overlooked member of the household and the community – pets and animals. To do this effectively, they need to understand the links between behavior involving violence against animals and interpersonal violence.
The NCJFCJ is offering a two-part webinar series to provide judges with practical information and resources for understanding the link and for addressing animal cruelty when it arises in the context of child abuse and neglect cases and juvenile offending cases. Judges, attorneys, and a psychologist with experience handling these cases are featured speakers in the webinars. While primarily oriented to judicial officers, the webinar series is open to all interested stakeholders. Participants may register to attend the series or may select to attend just one of the webinars. Webinar Faculty: The Honorable H. Lee Chitwood, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Pulaski VA, Dr. Barbara Boat, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Jamie Contreras, JD, Animal Legal Defense Fund, The Honorable John Romero, Jr., Children’s Court, Albuquerque NM, and Diane Balkin, JD, Animal Legal Defense Fund
Part 2 Webinar: Animal Cruelty and Juvenile Offending
Part 2 Faculty: The Honorable H. Lee Chitwood, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Pulaski VA, Dr. Barbara Boat, University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Jamie Contreras, JD, Animal Legal Defense Fund