Training Tools: Helping Court Staff Understand Domestic Violence Cases

The Center for Court Innovation recently developed three short videos to answer common questions from court staff about domestic violence. These videos can be used to help onboard new staff or as training tools for a larger discussion.

 

Part I - What’s Going On?

Why should courts learn about domestic violence? Court staff play a critical role in cases involving domestic violence. In fact, they are often the first people that litigants turn to for help after an incident. Their experience with court staff can impact whether or not litigants return to court in the future. Watch this video to learn more about domestic violence dynamics and strategies for court staff to treat litigants safely and appropriately.
 

Part II - Why Did They Drop the Order?

What makes domestic violence cases challenging for courts? Many court staff have seen survivors file for a protective order and later decide to not pursue the case. There are countless reasons why dropped orders are so common. Watch this video to learn about common challenges with cases involving domestic violence and how courts can respond.

Part III - Court Staff & Procedural Fairness

For court staff wondering about neutrality in domestic violence cases, the concept of procedural fairness is a great place to start. Procedural fairness describes the way litigants perceive the court process and how they were treated – especially whether it felt fair and impartial. This can be especially significant when domestic violence is present as litigants are more likely to understand and follow court orders. Watch this video to learn more about the elements of procedural fairness.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2016-TA-AX-K013 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.