Still in an Abusive Relationship

Abstract

This chapter looks at the annual conference called the Battered Mothers Custody Conference, which aims to inform, support, and advocate for survivors of domestic violence. It explains that the annual event, which started in 2006, allows survivors to network with each other and with the professionals and advocates who come to present at the conference. It also mentions the publication A Judge's Guide: Making Child-Centered Decisions in Custody Cases, which urges judges to count domestic violence as a serious factor in the determination of child custody, arguing that an abuser acts de facto against the best interests of the child by virtue of their abuse. The chapter mentions recommendations in the guide for training all parties engaged in custody disputes in a domestic violence context. It points out American states that have some consideration of domestic violence built into its state custody laws.