Resources

The Judicial Guide contains 14 bench cards which provide an easy-to-use checklist system for judges at critical decision-making points throughout the case, as well as a supplemental guide which provides additional information about in- and out-of-court behaviors, best interest of the child, and order issuance and enforcement.

This technical assistance brief describes the current state of research on identification of children’s risk for lethality and its relationship to the adult victim’s risk.

This publication was prepared to facilitate an informal group discussion about the efficacy of batterer intervention programs.

This guidance is designed to serve as a tool for judges evaluating whether a proposed extra-judicial activity meets the requirements of the judicial code of conduct in the jurisdictions where ethics opinions have been published.

This document contains summaries of published state court decisions of interest related to a rebuttable presumption against awarding sole or joint custody to a parent who has engaged in domestic violence against the other parent. 

This checklist focuses on strategies for responding to the media in high profile court cases.

This document contains summaries of published state court decisions of interest related to civil protection orders, their issuance, and their enforcement for the year 2019. While most of these summaries are brief, containing only the courts holding and any necessary background or procedural details, a few have been expanded based on their complexity, their uniqueness, or the importance of their holding. Cases have been categorized by their main issue below. Cases granted a rehearing before publication of this document are noted.

by Dr. Sujata Warrier. (From EJS Culture Segment)
This essay attempts to critique the prevailing thinking on culture and cultural competency within the context of domestic violence

This bench card provides an overview of the key points a judge needs to know, including the information needed to divide retirement benefits appropriately, decisions the judge needs to make, and what the order should include.

The 11th Judicial Circuit's dedicated Domestic Violence Court (Protection Order and Criminal) in Miami, FL, has crafted comprehensive procedures and forms related to surrender and return of firearms (including ammunition, and concealed weapons permits).

In 2005, the NCJFCJ revised Passport to Safety to reflect the amendments to VAWA, which expanded it from its original issuing and enforcing court cards to include new bench cards on firearms and child custody, visitation, and support. The NCJFCJ also added a Tribal insert to reflect the 2013 amendments to VAWA.

Power and Control Wheel specific to immigrant survivors.

This bench card is designed for use in conjunction with the more comprehensive Judicial Officer Guide for Responding to Stalking and as a reference when considering the role of stalking in Federal courts; Tribal courts; immigration courts; state family, juvenile, civil, and criminal court cases; and administrative law adjudications including immigration and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adjudications. Judicial officers are strongly encouraged to read the full Guide prior to using this bench card during proceedings. 

This Judicial Guide is designed to work in conjunction with federal, state, Tribal, and territorial stalking laws. Judicial officers should consider stalking in all types of legal proceedings, including in Federal courts; Tribal courts; immigration courts; state family, juvenile, civil, and criminal court cases; and administrative law adjudications including immigration and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adjudications.

This publication examines that decision, and its potential impacts to domestic violence victims and states and tribal courts in their efforts to address domestic violence. It also looks at the impact that McGirt has had on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s courts.

This model order is a tool designed to assist judges in drafting orders for the appointment of custody evaluators, particularly in cases where domestic violence is an issue. The order and companion commentary guide a judge through considerations in key elements of an appointment order.

Parenting plans in the aftermath of domestic violence is the focus of this brief. The long-standing support for the presumptions of shared parenting and rewarding the friendliest parent are on a collision course with our understanding of domestic violence. Parents with a history of domestic violence may need different resolutions that involve supervised or no contact with children, even for a limited period, depending on safety concerns for children and the non-offending parent. Compounding these dilemmas for family courts is the increasing movement promoting parental alienation as a serious concern. Although this paper does not minimize the seriousness of genuine alienation, it has become a common allegation in cases of domestic violence. A critical need in these cases is a proper assessment and investigation into all claims to ensure that appropriate parenting arrangements are matched to each family system. This theme is central in this paper.

The Power & Control diagram is a particularly helpful tool in understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors, which are used by a batterer to establish and maintain control over his partner

by Ellen Pence
This article discusses the important differences in partner violence to guide the forging of effective interventions.

The following guide includes some of the current technologies and technology terms that may arise in cases involving technology abuse. It is divided into five categories: Social Networking, Group Messaging, and Video Chat, Discussion Forums, Location Services, and Anonymous Browsers. Included under these categories are just a few examples of common sites and apps to help familiarize the reader with the types of technology available. The last section is a list of terms associated with these technologies. It is important to note that technology is changing constantly and information becomes out of date quickly. This guide is meant to be a starting place for judges to understand the basic types of technologies and not as an exhaustive list. Judges are encouraged to use this information as a framework for how technology is used and how it can be misused.

This guide, developed by the Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women, the National Center on State Courts, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, is intended to help you to determine whether your court has jurisdiction to enter or modify a child custody order in these and other interstate cases, as well as to understand your responsibilities to enforce orders from other jurisdictions. The guide includes four components: (1) an overview of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (the UCCJEA), a uniform state law that governs decision-making about jurisdiction in interstate custody cases; (2) a practice guide for judicial offcers that includes strategies for effective implementation of the UCCJEA in your court; (3) a similar practice guide for non-judicial court personnel; and (4) a copy of the UCCJEA and a chart with citations to state versions of the UCCJEA.