The Courts and Family Violence

This chapter describes how cases of child maltreatment, partner violence, and elder abuse are processed through various court systems. Court processing of family violence cases faces a number of challenges, including victim/witness participation, jurisdictional issues, and systemic concerns. The victims’ place in the life course plays a large role in how courtroom actors make decisions. The chapter traces the evolution of court response to family violence over time, as well as the characteristics of incidents, victims, and perpetrators that contribute to judge and prosecutor decision-making (e.g., granting protection orders and filing criminal charges). Additional sections address how the life-course perspective informs the ways in which courts respond to different forms of family violence, including strategies for child or elderly victim testimony.