When domestic abuse and children are involved, divorce and custody can be the epitome of high stakes conflict where, often, the named perpetrator of a child abuses gains custody. This book helps laypeople, mental health professionals, and attorneys navigate the judicial process so that decisions are truly made in the best interest of children.

A call for safety and accountablilty.

Moving beyond the narrow clinical perspective sometimes applied to viewing the emotional and developmental risks to battered children, this book, offers a view that takes into account the complex ways in which a batterer's abusive and controlling behaviors are woven into the fabric of daily life. This book is a guide for therapists, child protective workers, family and juvenile court personnel, and other human service providers in addressing the complex impact that batterers -- specifically, male batterers of a domestic partner when there are children in the household -- have on family functioning.

Prosecuted But Not Silenced is a powerful documentary about a mother and daughter's tragic involvement with the judicial system when there were allegations of child sexual abuse—a human rights and civil rights issue for women and children. It is an important educational tool for judges, lawyers, social workers, therapists, politicians, and the general public so that people realize what still occurs today. A National Health Crisis, Maralee’s story reveals the last taboo and a crime that needs the public's attention, and emphasizes the need for training in the dynamics of maltreatment so that no more mothers have to suffer what happened to Maralee and her daughter.

A mother and daughter disappear in the midst of a custody dispute, leaving behind indications that they left on purpose -- and that they didn't. A young journalism intern, Carrie Green, gets caught up in trying to find out what's happened to them. She astounds her editor by developing a rapport with the father of the missing girl even though no one else can stand him. Then she and her boyfriend infiltrate two opposing illegal networks, both of which seem to be connected to the case. And suddenly it starts to dawn on the young reporter that she's been believing all the wrong people...

When conducting parenting plan evaluations, mental health professionals need to be aware of a myriad of different factors. More so than in any other form of forensic evaluation, they must have an understanding of the most current findings in developmental research, behavioral psychology, attachment theory, and legal issues to substantiate their opinions. With a number of publications on child custody available, there is an essential need for a text focused on translating the research associated with the most important topics within the family court. This book addresses this gap in the literature by presenting an organized and in-depth analysis of the current research and offering specific recommendations for applying these findings to the evaluation process. Written by experts in the child custody arena, chapters cover issues associated with the most important and complex issues that arise in family court, such as attachment and overnight timesharing with very young children, dynamics between divorced parents and children's potential for resiliency, co-parenting children with chronic medical conditions and developmental disorders, domestic violence during separation and divorce, gay and lesbian co-parents, and relocation, among others. The scientific information provided in these chapters assists forensic mental health professionals to proffer empirically-based opinions, conclusions and recommendations. Parenting Plan Evaluations is a must-read for legal practitioners, family law judges and attorneys, and other professionals seeking to understand more about the science behind child custody evaluations.

"Are you ensnared in the judicial system? Fearful, incredulous, isolated, beyond rage ... feeling "alienated" This unique book conjoins law, therapy, and research revealing a subtype of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder called Legal Abuse Syndrome. Legal Abuse Syndrome helps victims overcome psychological devastation caused by prolonged injustice"--