NCJ Number
137377
Journal
Clearinghouse Review Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 925-936
Date Published
1991
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This summary of recent developments in family law covers legislation, judicial decisions, and studies regarding domestic assault, child custody and visitation, and child support.
Abstract
Topics covered include litigation against law enforcement officers, mandatory arrests, police policies and procedures, child sexual abuse, confidentiality, the responsibilities of attorneys, joint custody, child abduction, and enforcement of child support. In domestic violence issues, the trend is to mandate the arrest of abusers in general and, in particular, the arrest of abusers who violate orders of protection, with care taken to see that victims are not further victimized by new laws. A growing number of States have passed legislation requiring courts to consider the history of abuse in a family as a factor in making custody awards, and some have required a look at the past provider of primary care to the child as another factor to consider. Child sexual abuse cases are still difficult to prove, and interstate child custody cases are growing in number; existing law weighs heavily against battered mothers who flee abuse. The Family Support Act is generating continued Federal regulations, but child support payments are still mostly uncollected, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that mediation of family law cases is not the simple solution it was thought to be. Reference notes (Author summary modified)