For example, Jessica drafted and helped pass the bill criminalizing sexual abuse against animals and amend the current animal cruelty statute to increase the punishment range for violent animal cruelty offenders in 2017. Along with local law enforcement, Jessica spearheaded the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force and the 501(c)3 and fundraising arm of the Task Force - Paw & Order: Friends of the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force. Jessica personally developed the Responsible Pet Ownership Class still utilized today by the Harris County Probation Department and created the HOPE (Helping Our Pets through Education) Program, where she taught hundreds of students every year about animal cruelty, emphasizing the importance of empathy for animals among future generations. Jessica is a frequent speaker/trainer on animal cruelty and other animal law related issues for law enforcement, animal control, prosecutors, defense attorneys and the animal welfare community.
Sadly, most district attorney's offices do not have a specialized animal cruelty prosecutor solely designated to handle the uniqueness of animal cruelty cases from the investigative stage through courtroom disposition. Most Texas counties also do not have law enforcement or animal control officers specially trained on how to collect evidence in animal cruelty, dog attack, and other animal related investigations. This often impacts whether animal cruelty cases will stand up in court.
Jessica's lengthy experience and ability to independently review evidence, prepare for trial, and fully litigate animal cruelty cases from inception through trial makes her uniquely qualified to handle animal cruelty and neglect cases as a special prosecutor for Texas counties in need.
Contact Milligan Law if your county needs an experienced animal cruelty prosecutor today.
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