Research Update: Domestic Violence in Court-Based Child Custody Mediation Cases in California (November 2002)

The research update from the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, November 2002, focuses on the prevalence of domestic violence in court-based child custody mediation cases in California during 1999. It reveals that a significant number of parents reported experiencing violence in their relationships, yet often did not raise these issues during mediation, and there was a discrepancy in how parents identified and reported "domestic violence" or "physical violence." Since the data collection in 1999, California has implemented specific protocols to handle cases involving domestic violence during mediation, including mandatory screening for domestic violence and the option for separate mediation sessions for parties alleging domestic violence.