{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.12","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 12-2611.12","heading":"Support person or therapeutic dog","body":"A. It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature in enacting\n\nthis section to recognize the special circumstances and needs of a\n\nchild witness during criminal court proceedings, and to protect the\n\nchild witness from any unnecessary emotional discomfort or anguish.\n\nB. In any criminal proceeding, a child witness shall have the\n\nright to be accompanied by a support person while giving testimony\n\nin the proceeding, but the support person shall not discuss the\n\ntestimony of the child witness with any other witnesses or attempt\n\nto prompt or influence the testimony of the child witness.\n\nC. The child witness shall be afforded the opportunity, if\n\navailable, to have a certified therapeutic dog accompanied by the\n\nhandler of the certified therapeutic dog in lieu of a support\n\nperson.\n\nD. As used in this section:\n\n1. \"Certified therapeutic dog\" means a dog which has received\n\nthe requisite training or certification from the American Kennel\n\nClub, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, or an equivalent organization to\n\nperform the duties associated with therapy dogs in places such as\n\nhospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities where the emotional\n\nbenefits of therapy dogs are recognized. Prior to the use of a\n\ncertified therapeutic dog the court shall conduct a hearing to\n\nverify:\n\na. the credentials of the certified therapeutic dog,\n\nb. the certified therapeutic dog is appropriately\n\ninsured, and\n\nc. a relationship has been established between the child\n\nwitness and the certified therapeutic dog in\n\nanticipation of testimony;\n\n2. \"Child witness\" means a child as defined by Section 1-1-105\n\nof Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes who has been or will be called\n\nto testify in a criminal proceeding; and\n\n3. \"Support person\" means a parent, other relative or a next\n\nfriend chosen by the witness to accompany the witness to criminal\n\nproceedings.","path":["OK Code","Title 12"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os12.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"974c6281807ff0efbc3dbbf0ebc5038772a4999c5572ce3de4093ccee08c38b9","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.11","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-2611.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}