Justice Facility Dogs: Bringing Comfort to the Courtroom

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Tim travels to Shediac, New Brunswick to visit the Courage Centre and meet the incredible team behind Justice Facility Dogs New Brunswick.Joined by CEO Kristal LeBlanc and Winston, a highly trained justice facility dog, Tim explores how these remarkable dogs support vulnerable victims and witnesses navigating the criminal justice system. From RCMP interviews and forensic medical exams to court testimony and sentencing hearings, justice facility dogs provide emotional grounding, trauma support, and a sense of safety during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life.Kristal shares the origins of courthouse dogs, the extensive training required for justice facility dogs, and the science behind how canine support helps regulate stress, reduce cortisol, improve memory recall, and increase feelings of safety and trust.The conversation also dives into trauma-informed justice practices, testimonial aids in Canadian courts, domestic violence and sexual assault cases, jury considerations, and the broader evolution of victim support within the legal system.Tim also reflects on his own experiences with anxiety and the calming impact dogs have had throughout his life, making this one of the most heartfelt and unique episodes of The Wellness Docket to date.In This Episode:What justice facility dogs actually doThe difference between therapy dogs and accredited facility dogsHow Winston supports victims during court proceedingsWhy dogs help improve witness memory recallThe science of cortisol, oxytocin, and trauma responseSupporting children and adult victims in criminal proceedingsDomestic violence and sexual assault cases in New BrunswickThe training process for accredited justice facility dogsTestimonial aids in Canadian courtsTrauma-informed approaches to the justice systemJury trials and the role of facility dogs in courtroomsThe future of victim support legislation in CanadaAbout Kristal LeBlancKristal is the CEO of Justice Facility Dogs New Brunswick and the Courage Centre in Shediac, New Brunswick. She is an advocate for improving victim supports within the legal system and increasing awareness around trauma-informed justice practices in Canada.Kristal has played a leading role in expanding the use of justice facility dogs across the province to support vulnerable victims and witnesses involved in the criminal justice system. Under her leadership, the program has grown from a regional initiative into a province-wide service offering trauma-informed support.Resources discussed in this episode:Assistance Dog International (ADI)Lions Foundation of Canada Dog GuidesCourthouse Dogs Foundation—Contact Tim Culbert: LinkedInPurvis Culbert Law LinkedInInstagramFacebookContact Kristal LeBlanc: Website: Courage CentreFacebook: Courage Centre