PUBLICATIONS

The publications of the Family Violence Department (FVD) of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) include comprehensive suggestions for model court practice; legislation in family violence; and policy for collaboration among child protection workers, domestic violence service providers, and the courts.  The publications, described below, can be downloaded* or ordered via facsimile (with ordering on-line capabilities coming soon) or through the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody at (800) 527-3223 or (800) 52-PEACE.  Quantity discounts may be available, upon request, for some publications.

Checklist to Promote Perpetrator Accountability in Dependency Cases Involving Domestic Violence (2011).  This publication is known as the Accountability Checklist and was developed to guide judges in holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountability and ensure that efforts to reach fathers will foster the safety and well-being of children and victim parents. The Accountability Checklist will help the court leverage its authority, provide appropriate services, and improve judicial decision-making.

The Accountability Checklist will help judges define domestic violence; gather information; assess dangerousness, strength's, and fatherhood capacity; review service plans and treatment options; consider placement and visitation; and ensure an effective judicial process. No charge.

Juvenile and Family Court Journal - Family Violence Issue, Vol. 61, No. 4 (2010) The third special issue on family violence showcases cutting-edge research and emerging trends in the field in the areas of child protection and custody and is the third special issue of its kind.  The 2010 issue features articles on adolescent partner violence and the legal system's response, stalking and technological implications for safety, judicial responses to elder abuse, current research and emerging legislative trends involving men who use violence, integrated domestic violence dockets, and child custody jurisdiction and enforcement in cases involving domestic violence. This document is available to be viewed on the Wiley online library.  No Charge.

Civil Protection Orders: A Guide For Improving Practice (2010).  This publication is known as the CPO Guide.  The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, in partnership with the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women developed the CPO Guide as a tool designed to support the work of professional dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of the civil protection order process. It provides guidance for advocates, attorneys, judges, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors to help ensure that protection orders are effectively issued, served, and enforced across the country.

The  guiding premise of the CPO Guide  isthat if each profession commits to certain common values, then the system as a whole will be better able to protect and promote the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence and their children. No Charge.

Full Faith and Credit: A Passport to Safety, A Judge's Guide (VAWA 2005 Edition, 2010) This publication is also known as Passport to Safety  and is designed to facilitate the efforts of states, tribes, and territories to implement Full Faith & Credit Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Since its initial printing in 1999, VAWA has been amended twice - once in 2000 and again in 2005.  This version reflects the 2005 amendments and expandsPassport to Safety  from its original issuing and enforcing benchcards to include two new subject-area cards: one on firearms and one on custody, visitation, and support provisions within protection orders.   No charge.

A Judicial Guide to Child Safety in Custody Cases (2009) Because custody cases involving abuse have intermingled issues of safety and access, judges require effective and accessible information and tools to aid their decision-making. 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. No charge.

Reasonable Efforts Checklist for Dependency Cases Involving Domestic Violence (2009) Domestic violence in dependency cases often goes unrecognized and unaddressed.  This checklist includes easy reference bench cards for judges to consult during removal, adjudication, disposition, review, permanency, and termination hearings involving domestic violence.  It is designed to aid judges in making reasonable efforts findings that are required by federal law in dependency cases involving domestic violence.  No charge.

Child and Family Service Review Outcomes Strategies to Improve Domestic Violence Responses in CFSR Program Improvement Plans (2009). Unidentified domestic violence or unsafe intervention in domestic violence situations may contribute to poor outcomes for families. This guide was written to help stakeholders develop effective Program Improvement Plans for achieving safety, permanency, and well-being in domestic violence cases, and to identify or anticipate related technical assistance needs.  No Charge.

A Guide for Effective Issuance & Enforcement of Protection Orders (2005). This publication, also known as the Burgundy Book, preceded Civil Protection Orders:  A Guide for Improving Practice (2010). The Burgundy Book is available upon request, for historical purposes only. It is only available by calling the Resource Center at 1-800-527-3223.

Navigating Custody & Visitation Evaluations in Cases With Domestic Violence: A Judge's Guide by Clare Dalton, LLM, Leslie Drozd, PhD, and Judge Frances Wong (2004, revised 2006).  As the volume of cases involving custody, parent access, and domestic violence continues to rise, judges are relying on professional custody evaluators to inform their decisions more than ever before.  This Navigating Guide is designed to serve as a practical tool for judges on how to interpret and act on professional child custody evaluations when domestic violence is involved in family law cases.  The Guide includes four bench cards and supplementary materials.  First copy free, additional copies $4.00.  

Juvenile and Family Court Journal - Family Violence Issue, Vol. 54, No. 4 (Fall, 2003).  The second special edition examines some of the many complexities surrounding family violence.  Single copy free, additional copies $10.00 each. The articles encompass:

• vicarious trauma in judges;
• child custody and visitation;
• integrating domestic violence law into family court practice;
• misconceptions in custody cases involving domestic violence;
• immigration issues;
• disproportionate representation in the various systems;
• reasonable efforts determinations;
• domestic violence advocates in juvenile court;
• the military response to domestic violence; and
• safety audits. 

Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice, by Susan Schechter and Jeffrey L. Edleson, PhD, (1999). This publication, also known as the Greenbook, is the official policy of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and sets forth principles and recommendations for improving the policies and practices of child protection services, domestic violence services, and juvenile courts. The five chapters contained in the Greenbook (Guiding Framework, Foundation Principles and Recommendations, Child Protection System, Domestic Violence Services for Families, and Courts) are outlined in the Executive Summary. For more information regarding the Greenbook Initiative visit http://www.thegreenbook.info/. First copy free, additional copies $5.00. 

Juvenile and Family Court Journal - Family Violence Issue ,Vol. 50, No. 2 (Spring, 1999). In this first special edition, a number of authors brought together by the FVD examined a broad range of family violence matters. The articles encompass child custody, supervised visitation, child support, managing the domestic violence court docket, adult fatality reviews, full faith and credit to protective orders, and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. No charge.

Family Violence: Emerging Programs for Battered Mothers and Their Children (1998).  Highlights 29 innovative programs that provide services for multiple victims of family violence. This publication is divided into five service areas (Child Protection Systems, Community-Based Domestic Violence Services, Justice Systems, Health Care Systems, and Community-Based Parent/Child Services) representing the service areas that families experiencing violence often encounter and work within.  The information and program descriptions contained in this publication may provide a reference for examining how other communities have responded to domestic violence in order to create, replicate, or adapt similar programs in other communities.  Programmatic information may need to be verified as specifics may have changed since publication.  Only available online.


Managing Your Divorce: A Guide for Battered Women (1998). This guide is intended to be used by battered women who are representing themselves, without an attorney, in court cases involving child custody.  It includes chapters on finding an attorney, financial considerations, custody and divorce mediation, gathering evidence for trial, unsupervised visitation and safety planning, tips for dealing with custody evaluators, guidelines for selecting an expert witness, relocation, and many more.  However, it is not a recommendation to go into court unrepresented.  In fact, we recommend strongly that you seek legal advice from a lawyer trained on issues of domestic violence if there is any dispute or conflict about custody and visitation.  The guide is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean. Due to the high volume of requests for this publication, there is a total limit of five copies. The first five copies of either version or a combination of the versions are free, additional copies are $6.00 each. 

Volume 1, 1995         Volume 5, 1999          Volume 9, 2003            Volume 13, 2007 
Volume 2, 1996         Volume 6, 2000          Volume 10, 2004          Volume 14, 2008
Volume 3, 1997         Volume 7, 2001          Volume 11, 2005          Volume 15, 2009
Volume 4, 1998         Volume 8, 2002          Volume 12, 2006          Volume 16, 2010

Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence (1994). The Model Code was drafted by a multidisciplinary Advisory Committee comprised of judges, battered women's advocates, attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other professionals. The five chapters of the Model Code  include General Provisions, Criminal Penalties and Procedures, Civil Orders for Protection, Family and Children, and Prevention and Treatment. Commentary written by Barbara J. Hart, Esq. follows each section of the Model Code. First copy free, additional copies $10.00 each.

Family Violence: State-of-the-Art Court Programs (1992). Examines eighteen of the best family violence court programs in the United States and offers practical solutions which can assist courts, agencies, and communities wishing to improve the ways in which their justice system deals with family violence.  The various programs highlighted include comprehensive programs, statewide court programs, rural programs, civil protection order programs, and prosecution programs. Chapters relevant to offender accountability, coordinating councils, and legislation and policy development are also included.  Cost $15.00.

Juvenile and Family Court Journal - State Codes on Domestic Violence: Analysis, Commentary, and Recommendations, Vol. 43, No. 4, by Barbara J. Hart, Esq. (1992). The author examined state laws in the following eight areas:  civil protection orders, custody codes, mediation, civil damages, social and health services codes, evidence codes and battered women defendants, and the duty to protect children.  In each chapter, after comparing and contrasting the state codes, the author offers recommendations for provisions to be included in state codes concerning domestic and family violence.  Available online only.

Family Violence: Improving Court Practice (1990). Sets forth recommendations, which the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges adopted as official policy, for improving court practices in family violence cases and details the policies and procedures necessary to create and maintain an effective court, agency and community response to family violence. In addition to recommendations for criminal and civil courts, there are policy recommendations for court-related agencies, including law enforcement, prosecutors, court administration, probation, advocates, children's protective services, and treatment providers. Available online only.