Psychology and Sentencing: Mental Health Evaluations for Animal Cruelty Offenders
Presented 7/22/20
Like other violent crimes, animal cruelty offenses are often tied to underlying mental health issues. In order to rehabilitate offenders and protect future victims, those underlying issues must be addressed. Unfortunately, this crucial sentencing component is often overlooked by legislators and courts.
Join Staff Attorney Kathleen Wood and Criminal Justice Program Fellow Brittany Hill as they discuss the importance of psychological evaluations, examine surrounding factors that often contribute to animal cruelty, summarize current laws mandating psychological evaluations for cruelty offenders, and discuss the need for more collaboration between mental health professionals and the criminal justice system.
Disclaimer: presentation contains some mildly graphic images and content.
This webinar was pre-recorded. Watch it now!
Resources
- “Conceptualising Animal Abuse with an Antisocial Behavior Framework” by Eleonora Gullone (PDF)
- “Animal Maltreatment: Implications for Behavioral Science Professionals” by Lacey Levitt (PDF)
- Psychology and Sentencing: Mental Health Evaluations for Animal Cruelty Offenders – PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
- Animal Cruelty’s Link to Other Forms of Violence (PDF)
- Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Position Statement on Sentencing for Animal Cruelty Cases (PDF)
- “Interventions with Animal Abuse Offenders” by Maya Gupta, Lisa Lunghofer, and Kenneth Shapiro
- Learn more about the National Link Coalition
-
Kathleen Wood
Senior Staff Attorney
Sign Up!
Join the Animal Legal Defense Fund's email list to stay up to date on lawsuits, legislation, and regulations affecting animals.
Focus Area
How We Work
Issues
Related
-
Washington Governor Signs Animal Protection Bills into Law
The four laws will offer better protections for companion animals and keep wild animals from being exploited for entertainment in the stateMay 16, 2025 News -
FDA Seeks to Phase Out Animal Testing for Certain Medical Drugs
The Animal Legal Defense Fund continues to advocate for animals suffering in research labsMay 5, 2025 News -
Animal Legal Defense Fund Grant Helps Puppy Recover from Severe Leg Injury
The funds went toward an orthopedic surgery that prevented the puppy’s leg from needing to be amputated after being assaultedMarch 18, 2025 Press Release
