Family Violence Evaluations

Coercive Control Battery Assessments

Abuse Doesn't End After Divorce

Domestic violence includes any assault in the context of a family or intimate relationship. In the vast majority of cases, battering presents as “coercive control,” a persistent and malevolent pattern including a range of tactics to manipulate, harass, intimidate, exploit, isolate, and control a victim. Although the general pattern of abuse involved in the form of battering known as coercive control is uniform across relationships, the specific tactics chosen, reflect the privileged knowledge of a partner’s hopes and fears afforded by intimacy and the access granted to the victim because of the relationship. Coercive control is generally understood as rational and deliberately chosen acts intended to render a partner dependent and fearful, to exploit them sexually, financially and/or psychologically and to constrain the victim so that staying with the abusive partner and doing what the perpetrator wants is perceived as the least painful option. Coercive control obstructs a victim’s ability to seek effective help and safe escape, leading to entrapment in the relationship.

Research has identified that few evaluators relied on by custody courts have the critical knowledge needed to recognize and respond effectively to possible domestic violence or child abuse cases. They do not understand domestic violence dynamics or batterer narratives that help explain abuser motives. This has led to the widespread failure of custody courts to protect children.

Battery and Coercive Control Evaluations

A proper screening for coercive control and battery should be comprehensive and systematic. It should be conducted by an expert in domestic violence. Such an assessment will best help us to understand and account for the nature, context and implications of abuse at every stage of the family court proceedings. The decision making by the evaluator should focus on the lived experiences of the parents and children who are engaged with the family court system.

A domestic violence evaluator plays a crucial role in custody studies, especially when there are allegations or evidence of domestic violence. Dr. Jenna has the expertise needed to help complete a comprehensive, methodologically sound evaluation for domestic violence, coercive control and battery. This includes:

Assessment of Safety: She can assess the safety of the child and the non-abusive parent. She can identify any risks posed by the abusive parent and recommend measures to ensure the child’s safety.
Understanding Dynamics: She can provide insights into the dynamics of domestic violence, including patterns of control and abuse. This helps the court understand the context and impact of the violence on the child and the non-abusive parent.
Impact of perpetrator’s actions on parenting: Dr Jenna can evaluate the impact of domestic violence on the abusive parents’ capacity to parent—to provide a safe and nurturing environment.
Recommendations that consider child safety within the context of placement and custody. Dr Jenna can, based on her findings, recommend safeguards and interventions that can protect the child and targeted parent.
Expert Testimony: Dr Jenna can provide expert testimony in court, explaining her findings and recommendations in a way that will help the family court make safer decisions for children and targeted parent.
Support and Resources: Dr Jenna may recommend resources and supports for family members involved with domestic violence (family violence) and coercive control.

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When your efforts to protect your child are ineffective:

Custody evaluators often attempt to screen for Domestic Violence with psychological tests that tell us nothing about Domestic violence or coercive control. Evaluators will thus often use non-probative information to discredit true reports of abuse. Most evaluators are not using the specific knowledge necessary to respond effectively to domestic violence. Research has shown that without careful assessment, even family court professionals who indicate that they will make different decisions within the context of family violence fail to see it, often concluding that the casein front of them is “not that bad.”

If you’re worried that your efforts to protect your child’s best interest are not being heard or understood, Dr Jenna can help. If your custody evaluation (parenting plan evaluation) has been completed and you’re worried, she can complete a work product review

Saunders et. al.,2016; Saunders et. al.,2013; Haselschwerdt et. al., 2011

Work Product Review: Learn More

Dr Jenna Saul: Ensuring Your Child’s Best Interests

Amplifying Your Voice in Family Court

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