Many people who are going through divorce or a child custody dispute have come across the concept of an integrated domestic violence court – and most of them are left wondering, “What on earth is that?” In simple terms, it’s a legal mechanism designed to help the millions of women and children affected by domestic violence every year.
The statistics shining a light on the problem of domestic violence are shocking. According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as many as 1 in 3 American women have suffered some sort of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner – and every day, there are 20,000 calls made to domestic violence helplines across the country.
Domestic violence has a way of affecting everyone who is involved. A recent study by the Department of Justice discovered that 1 in 15 children are exposed to this violence – and 90 percent of them are eyewitnesses to the incident.
If you were a victim of domestic violence in New York, contact a Queens family lawyer from the Elliot Green Law Offices. Mr. Green can explain your legal rights and represent your interests.
Call 718-260-8668 to schedule a free consultation. You can also visit USAttorneys.com to learn more about divorce laws in New York.
Read on for a brief overview of the benefits of integrated domestic violence courts:
One Judge for the Whole Family
IDV courts were expanded across New York in 2003 to serve people who experience domestic violence. Recognizing that these victims face a number of pre-existing obstacles when trying to obtain a divorce, Chief Judge Judith Kaye decided to remove another barrier: complex and often incomprehensible court processes.
In the IDV court model, one judge is assigned all matters related to a single family, whether civil or criminal. This helps speed up decision-making, and keeps families safer by reducing the risk of important judicial orders being missed between different courts.
The Court Monitors the Defendants
With one judge hearing all arguments and working on a resolution, the IDV court helps the family improve collaboration between social-service initiatives and criminal law procedures. An IDV court will also usually schedule regular visits to ensure compliance with its orders – and this helps keep defendants accountable to the court.
More Information, Better Decisions
The judge of an IDV court will have access to a wider variety of feedback from stakeholders than usual, including attorneys, police, parole officers and witnesses – who may in the past have been made unavailable by other court procedures.
A Greater Emphasis on Care
The integrated domestic violence court model is designed to work very closely with community organizations that aim to help victims of domestic violence. This way, while the court will be concerned with resolving the conflict, social services will be granted the necessary access and rights to do what they can to protect and care for the victims.
If you were a victim of domestic violence, contact the Elliot Green Law Offices. Mr. Green is a Queens family lawyer who will handle the legal aspects of your divorce so you can focus on your personal well-being. Call 718-260-8668 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
