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Resources for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors


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	The HSUS can help get you on your way to expertise in handling cruelty cases.

The HSUS has decades of experience assisting with the prosecution of animal cruelty cases. We provide advice on all animal cruelty cases and in many cases are able to offer legal memos, amicus briefings, expert witnesses and other resources.

We also offer rewards for the apprehension and conviction of animal abusers, and provide training opportunities for law enforcement and prosecutors.

» Map of state cruelty laws
» Rewards

Guides and Manuals for Investigating and Prosecuting Animal Cruelty

The following investigation and prosecution guides are linked by permission and are for informational purposes only. They are the work of experts in the states specified, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The HSUS. Nevertheless, they are excellent resources for cruelty investigators and prosecutors.

How to Prosecute Animal Cruelty in Georgia
How to Investigate Animal Cruelty in N.Y.
How to Investigate Animal Cruelty in Vt.
Primer for Investigating Cruelty in Texas
Pursuing Animal Abuse Cases in Texas
ACO Training Manual Texas

We also offer Illegal Animal Fighting: A Law Enforcement Primer for the Investigation of Cockfighting and Dogfighting (for law enforcement only). Please email dbartlett@humanesociety.org for access, and be prepared to verify your status as a law enforcement officer or officer of the court.

Expert Witnesses and Counselors

The HSUS employs and contracts with nationally recognized experts on subjects including animal fighting; the connection between animal cruelty and human violence; animal hoarding; veterinary forensics; farm animal welfare; equine welfare; wildlife issues; animal behavior and other issues that can arise in cruelty cases.

In conjunction with the Animals and Society Institute, we also maintain a list of psychologists and counselors trained to provide targeted treatment to animal abusers.

If you are a prosecutor and you would like an expert witness to bolster your case, or would like more information on treatment options for offenders, please email animalfighting@hsus.org.

Training

Humane Society University, the training arm of The HSUS, offers animal cruelty training for prosecutors, investigators and the public. Choose from on-site training workshops on subjects like:

» Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations
» First Strike: Human/Animal Cruelty
» Animal Cruelty for Non-investigators

HSU offers on-line courses on topics including First Strike: Human/Animal Cruelty and Dog Bite Prevention for Law Enforcement and First Responders.

HSU provides nationally recognized experts to speak at conferences on a broad range of topics related to animal cruelty investigation and prosecution.

For scheduling and other inquiries, contact hsu@humanesociety.org. For more details, visit humanesocietyu.org

National District Attorney's Association

The HSUS is also working directly with the National District Attorney’s Association, the Animal Welfare Institute and the American Humane Association to develop NDAA-led animal cruelty training for prosecutors.

Publications

» A Common Bond [PDF]: Maltreated Children and Animals in the Home, Guidelines for Practice and Policy
» The Empathy Connection [PDF]: Creating Caring Communities through the Human-Animal Relationship
» First Strike [PDF]: The Violence Connection