Child Custody and Access in the Context of Family Violence: a review of the literature and annotated bibliography

Braun, Joan

Update of 1994 BCIFV publication. This publication consists of three sections: a written overview of the topic, an annotated bibliography of selected materials, and a longer bibliography consisting of citations used in this literature review and other resources.

Topics include:

• The legal system’s shortcomings for victims of family violence


• The legal system fails to recognize the special circumstances of female victims of family violence


• The legal system does not routinely consider family violence or past parental conduct in determining the “best interests of the child”


• The legal system fails to protect abuse victims from ongoing harassment


• The legal system creates obstacles for victims through the “friendly parent” presumption


• The legal system fails to recognize the existence of power imbalances between litigating parties


• Specific issues relating to custody and access in the context of family violence


• The best interests of the child


• Child abuse


• True and false allegations of child abuse


• Psychological effects of divorce on children


• Parental alienation syndrome


• The effect on children of exposure to domestic violence


• The “fathers’ rights” movement


• Gender and the law


• Violence in lesbian and gay relationships


• Custody evaluations


• Joint custody


• Mediation


• Supervised access

50 pages / $10
FULL TEXT ONLINE (pdf)