An in-depth analysis of the court system's response to a child's psychological well-being in domestic violence custody hearings

In a child custody hearing where domestic violence is present in the household, court appointed evaluators are tasked to investigate the nature of the alleged domestic abuse, the offender and victims, and the threat of ongoing violence after the separation. Prior research illuminates how the court tends to require joint custody and mandates children to maintain physical proximity with their abuser Children who remain in joint custody situations are at risk of continued exposure to violence in conditions where domestic violence is prevalent after the separation. The psychological burden caused by custody disputes and ongoing domestic violence to a child is cause for serious concern. Exposure to domestic abuse, in all its forms, negatively impacts the cognitive, social, and attachment development of children. Central to research are victims' voices. This study provides a snapshot of the narratives surrounding the need for psychological interventions. An in-depth analysis of transcribed interviews with domestic abuse survivors were conducted to identify the existing tendency the courts may or may not have in taking the child's psychological well-being into consideration, and if any form of counseling or intervention was court mandated to protect those children.