Benefits of Judicial Assistance Dogs for Child Victims in Child Advocacy and Pediatric Assessment Units (UAPEDs)

Child maltreatment is common and encompasses various forms, including psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, neglect, and sexual exploitation. Each year, French police and gendarmerie services record more than 50,000 child victims of intrafamilial violence, according to data from the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI). Approximately two-thirds of these children are victims of physical violence and one-third are victims of sexual violence. These figures have increased steadily over recent years, particularly for sexual violence, in the context of greater disclosure by victims. Violence against children constitutes a major public health issue because of its short- and long-term physical, psychological, and developmental consequences, as well as the increased risk of involvement in future violence during adolescence or adulthood, either as victims or perpetrators. Children presumed to be victims of abuse are managed in Child Advocacy and Pediatric Assessment Units (Unités d'Accueil Pédiatrique Enfance en Danger, UAPEDs) by multidisciplinary teams comprising physicians, psychologists, nurses, and social workers, following judicial referral or concerns raised by parents or caregivers. Depending on the circumstances, the child may undergo a forensic interview conducted on-site by law enforcement officers (police or gendarmerie), followed by a medico-legal and/or psychological assessment to evaluate the impact of the alleged abuse. This model enables comprehensive care to be delivered in a single location and within a limited timeframe, with professionals working around the child, thereby minimizing repeated disclosures and reducing the risk of retraumatization. The vast majority of forensic interviews are conducted by investigators trained in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) protocol for interviewing children. It has been hypothesized that the involvement of a Judicial Assi