Earlier this month I made a presentation at a conference, organised by the University of California, Irvine’s Initiative To End Family Violence, in conjunction with California Protective Parents. In my presentation I made some brief points about what can be called the “Facilitating System” in and around family courts that I think could do with some elaboration. These are the ideas and incentives … [Read more...]
How the Dismissed Theory of “Parental Alienation” Continues to Put Children in Danger
Concerns about the 'alienation plague' that has infected family courts in the United States since the mid-1980's are rapidly spreading across the world as there is a lot of money to be made in these cases. This article from New Zealand about the dangers of alienation in family court decision-making highlights the fact that “parental alienation syndrome” has long-since been dismissed as a theory … [Read more...]
“Parental Alienation” is Misused, Has No Scientific Evidence, and Should Have No Place in Our Law or Legal System
Despite there being no scientific evidence for it, "parental alienation" has been misused in our family courts to the extent that victims of domestic abuse are afraid to disclose abuse for fear of being accused of alienation. CJE colleague in the U.K., Baroness Arminka Helic, is doing a phenomenal job fighting efforts in her country to add "parental alienation" to the sweeping Domestic Abuse … [Read more...]
The Amendment Threatening to Derail the Domestic Abuse Bill (UK)
The domestic abuse bill currently before parliament is being watched very closely by domestic abuse support networks throughout the world. It is potentially landmark legislation that could help to alleviate some of the torment and suffering that predominantly women and children experience daily. Yet there is one proposed amendment that could undermine the positive aspects of the bill - the push to … [Read more...]