Research
2012 U.S. Department of Justice Study
This 2012 study found that court professionals rely on unscientific "alienation" theories which hold that mothers commonly make false allegations of abuse to interfere with fathers' relationship with the children, and that their attempts to
protect their children are actually harmful to the children. It also found that the punishment meted out for this "alienation"--taking children away from their mother, their primary caretaker--harms the child much more than any "alienation" from the father the court is purportedly trying to protect the child from. It finds that it is ALWAYS a bad outcome for the children when they are taken away from their primary bond and the harm caused includes depression, low self-esteem and suicide.
Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody
This reference contains a compilation of up-to-date empirical research confirming that Family Courts are routinely placing children into the custody of abusers while mothers have been denied custody and visitation for trying to protect them.
In a trend that started in the 1980s, and increasingly since then, family court judges across the U.S. have ordered thousands and thousands of children into unsupervised visitation with abusive biological fathers. In many cases, mothers have been denied any form of custody, with some losing all contact with their children. In the last few years, attorneys and social service advocates have met to address this issue at the annual Battered Mother’s Custody Conferences. This book brings together the expertise and perspective of more than thirty contributors to BMCC in a comprehensive resource that arms advocates with the best thinking and most effective legal strategies in the battle to protect mothers and families from a system that often fails to address abuse and sometimes actually worsens the problem. |
Documentaries
No Way Out But One
http://nowayoutbutone.com/
Small Justice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNXqDgSAOt4
Battered Mothers Custody Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5viwjaIorU8
http://nowayoutbutone.com/
Small Justice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNXqDgSAOt4
Battered Mothers Custody Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5viwjaIorU8
Media
Judges Putting Children Back with Abusers
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/22786860/protestors-judges-are-putting-children-back-with-abusers
True Crime Stories: Children on the Run from Abusive Parents
http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19671733/children-lost-in-the-system-of-our-nations-family-courts
Lost in the System: Damon's Story
http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19502814/damons-story-a-first-look?auto&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7711834
Children Lost in the System Series
http://www.myfoxla.com/category/248760/lost-in-the-system
Battered Mothers Custody Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_qh-jX9qGk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7SEhkLT9sM
In the Wake of Sandusky
http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/06/25/jerry-sandusky-abuse/
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/22786860/protestors-judges-are-putting-children-back-with-abusers
True Crime Stories: Children on the Run from Abusive Parents
http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19671733/children-lost-in-the-system-of-our-nations-family-courts
Lost in the System: Damon's Story
http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19502814/damons-story-a-first-look?auto&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7711834
Children Lost in the System Series
http://www.myfoxla.com/category/248760/lost-in-the-system
Battered Mothers Custody Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_qh-jX9qGk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7SEhkLT9sM
In the Wake of Sandusky
http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/06/25/jerry-sandusky-abuse/
Articles
The Broken Custody Court System: Is there Reason for Hope?
The Catholic Church, Penn State, Syracuse and the Custody Courts:
The Pattern of Powerful Institutions Protecting Pedophiles
A Life Sentence
California Family Courts Helping Pedophiles, Batterers Get Child Custody
EXTREME CUSTODY DECISIONS THAT RISK LIVES
Legislation Needed to Help Protective Mothers
DV CASES REQUIRE DV EXPERTS: DUH!
Custodians of Abuse
When Battered Mothers Lose Custody: A Qualitative Study of Abuse at Home and in the Courts
Domestic Violence Safe Courts Act
U. S. Department of Justice v. Custody Court System
Murder In The Courts: All In The Name Of Parental Rights?
What Price Justice? Child Trafficking and the "Legalization" of Incest in America's Family Courts
How Family Courts Punish Abused Women
Child Custody Justice
Disorder In The Courts
A Study of Judicial Abuse
The Scandal In Our Own Backyard
America 75% Of All Batterers Get Custody Of The Children
The Parental Alienation Syndrome: Is It Scientific?
The Myth of Epidemic False Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Divorce Cases
Sick Joke or Sick Reality?
The Catholic Church, Penn State, Syracuse and the Custody Courts:
The Pattern of Powerful Institutions Protecting Pedophiles
A Life Sentence
California Family Courts Helping Pedophiles, Batterers Get Child Custody
EXTREME CUSTODY DECISIONS THAT RISK LIVES
Legislation Needed to Help Protective Mothers
DV CASES REQUIRE DV EXPERTS: DUH!
Custodians of Abuse
When Battered Mothers Lose Custody: A Qualitative Study of Abuse at Home and in the Courts
Domestic Violence Safe Courts Act
U. S. Department of Justice v. Custody Court System
Murder In The Courts: All In The Name Of Parental Rights?
What Price Justice? Child Trafficking and the "Legalization" of Incest in America's Family Courts
How Family Courts Punish Abused Women
Child Custody Justice
Disorder In The Courts
A Study of Judicial Abuse
The Scandal In Our Own Backyard
America 75% Of All Batterers Get Custody Of The Children
The Parental Alienation Syndrome: Is It Scientific?
The Myth of Epidemic False Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Divorce Cases
Sick Joke or Sick Reality?
Organizations, Professionals, and Online Resources
Battered Mothers Custody Conference
www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org
Barry Goldstein
www.barrygoldstein.net
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
www.ncadv.org
The Leadership Council
www.leadershipcouncil.org
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)
www.ncjfcj.org
National Organization for Women (NOW)
www.now.org
ABA Commission on Domestic Violence
www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html
ABA Center on Children and the Law
www.abanetlorg/child
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
www.apsac.org
Lundy Bancroft
www.lundybancroft.com
Battered Women’s Justice Project
www.bwjp.org
California Protective Parents Association
www.protectiveparents.com
Talia Carner
www.TaliaCarner.com
Children Against Court Appointed Child Abuse
www.ca3cacaca.blogspot.com
Courageous Kids Network
www.courageouskids.net
The Custody Scam
www.custodyscam.blogspot.com
Margaret Dore
www.margaretdore.com
Molly Dragiewicz
www.mollydragiewicz.com
Illinois Coalition for Family Court Reform
www.icfcr.org
Justice for Children
www.justiceforchildren.org
Michael Lesher
www.michaellesher.com
The Liz Library
www.thelizlibrary.org
National Organization of Men Against Sexism
www.nomas.org
Office on Violence Against Women
www.ovw.usdoj.gov
Small Justice
www.smalljustice.com
Stop Family Violence
www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Robin Yeamans
www.divorcecal.com
Joan Zorza
www.zorza.net
www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org
Barry Goldstein
www.barrygoldstein.net
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
www.ncadv.org
The Leadership Council
www.leadershipcouncil.org
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)
www.ncjfcj.org
National Organization for Women (NOW)
www.now.org
ABA Commission on Domestic Violence
www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html
ABA Center on Children and the Law
www.abanetlorg/child
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
www.apsac.org
Lundy Bancroft
www.lundybancroft.com
Battered Women’s Justice Project
www.bwjp.org
California Protective Parents Association
www.protectiveparents.com
Talia Carner
www.TaliaCarner.com
Children Against Court Appointed Child Abuse
www.ca3cacaca.blogspot.com
Courageous Kids Network
www.courageouskids.net
The Custody Scam
www.custodyscam.blogspot.com
Margaret Dore
www.margaretdore.com
Molly Dragiewicz
www.mollydragiewicz.com
Illinois Coalition for Family Court Reform
www.icfcr.org
Justice for Children
www.justiceforchildren.org
Michael Lesher
www.michaellesher.com
The Liz Library
www.thelizlibrary.org
National Organization of Men Against Sexism
www.nomas.org
Office on Violence Against Women
www.ovw.usdoj.gov
Small Justice
www.smalljustice.com
Stop Family Violence
www.stopfamilyviolence.org
Robin Yeamans
www.divorcecal.com
Joan Zorza
www.zorza.net
Books
Armstrong, L., Rocking the Cradle of Sexual Politics: What Happened When Women Said Incest (Addison-Wesley 1994).
Bancroft, L., & Silverman, J., The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics (Sage Publications 2002).
Bancroft, L., Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. (Berkeley Publishing Group 2002).
Bancroft, L., When Dad Hurts Mom: Helping Your Children Heal the Wounds of Witnessing Abuse (Penguin Group 2002).
Chesler, P., Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody (Harcourt 2011).
Goldstein, B. & Hannah, M., Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Child Custody (Civic Research Institute 2010).
Goldstein, B., Scared to Leave Afraid to Stay: Paths from Family Violence to Safety (Robert D. Reed Publishers 2002).
Jaffe, P., Lemon, N., & Poisson, S., Child Custody and Domestic Violence: A Call for Safety and Accountability (Sage Publications 2002).
Lemon, N.K.D., Domestic Violence Law (West, 3d ed. 20009).
McLean, M. Prosecuted But Not Silenced: Courtroom Reform for Sexually Abused Children (Tate Publishing 2013).
Muhammad, M., Scared Silent (Streban Books 2009).
Myers, J.E.B., A Mother’s Nightmare—Incest: A Practical Legal Guide for Parents and Professionals (Interpersonal Violence: The Practice Series) (Sage Publications 1997).
Neustein, A., & Lesher, M., From Madness to Mutiny: Why Mothers Are Running From the Family Courts—And What Can Be Done About It (University of New England Press 2005).
Ptacek, J., Battered Women in the Courtroom: The Power of Judicial Responses (Northeastern University Press 1999).
Rosen, L., & Etlin, M., The Hostage Child: Sex Abuse Allegations in Custody Disputes (Indiana University Press 1996).
Stark, E., Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life (Oxford University Press 2007).
Titelman, W., Let My Children Go: A Mother’s Journal (Kinderlex Boods 2003).
Winner, K., Divorced from Justice: The Abuse of Women and Children by Divorce Lawyers and Judges (Reagan Books 1996).
Zorza, J., ed., Violence Against Women (3 volumes) (Civic Research Institute 2002, 2004, 2006).
Bancroft, L., & Silverman, J., The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics (Sage Publications 2002).
Bancroft, L., Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men. (Berkeley Publishing Group 2002).
Bancroft, L., When Dad Hurts Mom: Helping Your Children Heal the Wounds of Witnessing Abuse (Penguin Group 2002).
Chesler, P., Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody (Harcourt 2011).
Goldstein, B. & Hannah, M., Domestic Violence, Abuse, and Child Custody (Civic Research Institute 2010).
Goldstein, B., Scared to Leave Afraid to Stay: Paths from Family Violence to Safety (Robert D. Reed Publishers 2002).
Jaffe, P., Lemon, N., & Poisson, S., Child Custody and Domestic Violence: A Call for Safety and Accountability (Sage Publications 2002).
Lemon, N.K.D., Domestic Violence Law (West, 3d ed. 20009).
McLean, M. Prosecuted But Not Silenced: Courtroom Reform for Sexually Abused Children (Tate Publishing 2013).
Muhammad, M., Scared Silent (Streban Books 2009).
Myers, J.E.B., A Mother’s Nightmare—Incest: A Practical Legal Guide for Parents and Professionals (Interpersonal Violence: The Practice Series) (Sage Publications 1997).
Neustein, A., & Lesher, M., From Madness to Mutiny: Why Mothers Are Running From the Family Courts—And What Can Be Done About It (University of New England Press 2005).
Ptacek, J., Battered Women in the Courtroom: The Power of Judicial Responses (Northeastern University Press 1999).
Rosen, L., & Etlin, M., The Hostage Child: Sex Abuse Allegations in Custody Disputes (Indiana University Press 1996).
Stark, E., Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life (Oxford University Press 2007).
Titelman, W., Let My Children Go: A Mother’s Journal (Kinderlex Boods 2003).
Winner, K., Divorced from Justice: The Abuse of Women and Children by Divorce Lawyers and Judges (Reagan Books 1996).
Zorza, J., ed., Violence Against Women (3 volumes) (Civic Research Institute 2002, 2004, 2006).