A Judge’s Guide

RECURRING ISSUES
supervisor is present for the entire visit, and is able to observe all activity and hear
all conversation. 11
A less restrictive visitation service is exchange supervision. 12 This service only
provides supervision during the transfer at the start and end of visits. 13 Exchange
supervision is appropriate when the risk to child safety is less severe. 14
Additionally, exchange supervision can be used when the child is upset about the
transfers. 15
Other forms of supervised visitation include multiple family group visitation and
therapeutic supervision. Multiple family group visitation typically occurs at a
visitation center. The supervisor monitors several families and likely will not see
all interactions or hear all conversations. 16 Therapeutic supervision uses trained
mental health professionals to provide supervision and work with the family to
promote improvement in family relationships. 17
If no supervised visitation
program is in place in a
particular jurisdiction, the
visitation order must
coordinate the resources that
are available to meet the
child’s needs. The first
objective is selecting a
supervisor. An appropriate
supervisor must be someone
who can remain neutral in the
situation and adequately
monitor the visiting parent. 18
While it is important that the
custodial parent trust the
supervisor, it is also important
that the visiting parent does
not have an antagonistic
relationship with the
supervisor. 19 Supervisors are
generally either friends and
family members or
community members.
Since family and friends are
often emotionally invested in
the present situation,
community members may
provide more neutral
FAMILY OR FRIEND SUPERVISOR
1. Is the individual neutral?
• Will the supervisor report adequately and
honestly about the visiting parent’s behavior?
• Is there animosity between the supervisor and
visiting parent?
• Is the supervisor afraid of the visiting parent?
2. Can the supervisor protect the child?
3. Is the individual adequately mature to
supervise?
4. Will the supervisor be present during the entire
visit?
5. Is the supervisor available and willing to
supervise?
6. The supervisor should NOT be chosen if the
custodial parent has concerns about his or her
qualifications.
7. The supervisor should NOT be the custodial
parent.
Adapted from Robert B. Straus, Supervised
Visitation and Family Violence, 29 FAM.L.Q.
229-52 (1995) and NANCY K.D. LEMON,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILDREN:
RESOLVING CUSTODY AND VISITATION DISPUTES,
ANATIONAL JUDICIAL CURRICULUM 57-68.
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