A Judge’s Guide

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN:
RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE INTERVENTIONS
by Sarah M. Buel, J.D. 1
2008, all rights reserved
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
II. UNIVERSAL SCREENING
III. SAFETY PLANNING
IV. INTIMIDATION OF CHILD WITNESSES
V. CULTURAL COMPETENCE
VI. FAMILY VIOLENCE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
VII. TEEN DATING ABUSE
VIII. BATTERERS AND CHILD CUSTODY
IX. SAFE VISITATION
X. CHILD PROTECTION AND BATTERED MOTHERS
XI. RESPONDING TO CHILDREN AT THE CRIME SCENE
XII. FAMILY VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
XIII. FAMILY VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH
XIV. CHILD SUPPORT
XV. THE DANGERS OF MUTUAL PROTECTIVE ORDERS
XVI. CONTRAINDICATION OF MEDIATION
XVII. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF VICTIMS
XVIII. BATTERERS AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS PROGRAMS
XIX. FAMILY VIOLENCE COUNCILS
XX. ROLE OF EMPLOYERS
XXI. CONCLUSION
1 B.A., cum laude Harvard Extension School; J.D., cum laude Harvard Law School; Clinical Professor, University
of Texas School of Law, teaching “Domestic Violence and the Law” and Torts courses, and co-director of the
UTSL Domestic Violence Clinic; co-founder, U.T. Insitute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, former
domestic violence, child abuse and juvenile prosecutor, and advocate since 1977. This article is a work in progress
and the author welcomes comments to sbuel@law.utexas.edu .
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