Voices Against Violence

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The rulings of forced contact from those involved in family court go against standard psychological advice, according to clinical forensic psychologist Dr. Catherine Barrett of Los Angeles, Calif., who has spoken nationally about reunification therapy and camps. She points to a confirmation bias in family court that believes women coach children to make up allegations of abuse, and then acts on that belief that children are lying about abuse. “We need to listen to kids,” said Dr. Barrett. “Kids don’t make this stuff up.” According to a study by Dr. Joan Meiers and George Washington University Law School that was funded by the National Institute of Justice, in family court allegations of abuse are not believed 75 percent of the time. “The confirmation bias is that victims are lying,” said Dr. Barrett. “This is the generation of voice and technology,” she observed. “These kids aren’t being coached.”

An ‘oppressive’ experience:’ 57 hearings, 80 court orders and 12 parenting time schedules

What do you do when 11 judges and referees, 20 therapists, 12 mediators, two parenting consultants (with 37 directives), one custody evaluator, and one guardian ad litem haven’t been able to … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 4/10/24

Domestic abuse victim jailed

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a Minnesota judge ordered a victim to jail for not forcing her daughter to see her father. Dani* was ordered to serve 30 days in jail on Oct. 2, 2023 or … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 11/26/23

Thi Synavone works as the executive director at Standpoint. (Photo submitted)

From their Standpoint

Thi Synavone came to the U.S. in 1979 as a Laotian refugee. After living in many states, her family settled in Minnesota in 1988. Synavone said that growing up, domestic and sexual violence was never … more

10/12/23

CAUGHT BETWEEN

She lived in Minnesota for only five months and her daughter was born in Iowa, but Dani* has been dragged into family court in Minnesota nearly every one of the past 11 years by her ex-boyfriend. … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 6/7/23

A SAFER APPROACH FOR CUSTODY CASES

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? And how does it affect the kids?Figuring out family dynamics in custody cases can be tricky, but the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) in St. Paul … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/12/22

Autumn holds her new baby sister, Delylah. (Photo courtesy of Kelsey Kruse)

FAILED BY FAMILY COURT

Helpless and hopeless.That’s how Kelsey Kruse felt for years as she tried to co-parent with her ex and his wife, Brett and Sarah Hallow.And then one day, she got the call she was scared … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/11/22

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