By Barry Goldstein Most custody cases do not involve domestic violence (DV) or child abuse so if courts need assistance, mental health professionals would be an appropriate choice. Family courts are used to relying on mental health professionals for all cases, but this is based on a long history rather than good research. What works best for children in cases where there are reports or evidence … [Read more...]
Watchdog criticises family courts’ handling of domestic abuse
System retraumatises victims of abuse in England and Wales and puts children’s safety at risk, report says. The family courts are putting the safety of children at risk by failing to deal effectively with domestic abuse, a report says. The domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, calls in the report for urgent reforms to a family justice system that she says … [Read more...]
Dr. Jennifer Kagan-Viater Discusses the Impact of Intimate Partner Violence and Domestic Abuse on Parenting: Keira’s Law
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, Lianne Castelino speaks to Dr. Jennifer Kagan-Viater, palliative care physician and mother, as well as Philip Viater, family law lawyer and father, about the impact of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence on parenting. “…it has been very difficult. You know, I think what some people may not realize is that for others watching our story, … [Read more...]
California Judges Able to Renew Domestic Violence Protection Orders Under New Law
In November 2021, a California judge determined the woman before him had demonstrated a reasonable case of fear of continued physical abuse and threats to her life with a firearm. However, the judge wasn’t sure if state law actually gave him the authority to renew her domestic violence restraining order. California’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act allowed for protection orders to be renewed … [Read more...]
‘Keira’s Law’ to Expand Judicial Education on Domestic Violence
(Ontario, CANADA) Two years after the death of her daughter, protective mother Jennifer Kagan-Viater discusses the preventable death of her daughter, 4-year-old Keira Kagan, and how this tragedy reflects on Ontario's family justice system. Keira's Law would make it mandatory for judges to be trained in domestic violence. "The rights of the abusive parent in this instance trumped Keira's … [Read more...]