Professors look for evidence of violence in domestic abuse screening
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 10, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Court-ordered mediation in family law -- divorce, child custody, child support -- has been a regular practice for many years. But research now shows that mediators often overlook the role of intimate partner violence and abuse in family law cases, according to Amy G. Applegate, a clinical professor of law at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
"Over 50 percent of the families sent to mediation have experienced some form of physical violence," Applegate explained. "Mediators often don't screen for violence or abuse in the family, and they often lack the diagnostic tools to prepare them to do so." Applegate and Professors Amy Holtzworth-Munroe of the IU Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Connie Beck of the University of Arizona's Department of Psychology are conducting research on how violence and abuse in family law settings can be uncovered and addressed as part of the mediation process.
Applegate, Holtzworth-Munroe, and Professor Brian D'Onofrio of the IU Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences are also conducting research that examines how to best help parents in mediation decrease their conflict and reach parenting agreements that are good for their children. As noted by Holtzworth-Munroe, "The collaborative working relationship we have established between law and psychology at IU allows us the opportunity to examine important family law issues using social science research methods, to ultimately improve the effectiveness of interventions with families who may need our help during difficult family transitions."
Applegate is available to comment on these developments, and on general family law-related topics. She can be reached at 812-855-8684, or at aga@indiana.edu.
