In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, on Friday, Oct. 12 NCJFCJ will host "A Town Hall Meeting on Child Custody Determinations in Cases Involving Domestic Violence: Reunification vs. Safety." The public is invited to attend and participate in the discussion focusing on how the court balances the competing interests of access vs. safety of the child in these family court cases involving domestic violence. The event will take place at NCJFCJ’s headquarters, in the Continuing Education Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, 1041 North Virginia Street, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

In addition to discussing the difficult nature of these issues, Judge Michael Denton from Austin, Texas, will address:

• the various uses of domestic violence in interpersonal relationships and how  that affects the judge's analysis of the access vs. safety issue; 
• the statutory presumption that a person guilty of domestic violence should not have joint custody; and
• judicial awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children.

Other panel members will include a prominent Reno family attorney, a representative from the Reno's Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW) and a local news reporter. Panelists’ presentations will be followed by a question and answer period and reception. For more information, please e-mail or call NCJFCJ at 775-784-6012.