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Chapitre 14/Chapter 14Assessing Safety, Managing Abuse:Routine Screening for Domestic Violence in the Family Law SystemJudy A. HughesDepartment of Social WorkUniversity of Northern British Columbiajhughes0@unbc.caRésumé/AbstractOnce a silenced problem, intimate violence against women is now institutionallyrecognized across a variety of agencies and organizations. In the midst of this now almostoverwhelming naming, a critical question emerges: Has this increased recognitiontranslated into improved practices and service outcomes for abused women? Using datafrom a project investigating the routine abuse screening practices of Canadian family lawlawyers, mediators, and custody assessors, the chapter explores whether these practicesresult in changed and improved practices as well as safe child custody arrangements.Findings demonstrate that abuse screening results in increased recognition and safety forsome abused women, yet simultaneously operates to silence other women’s claims ofabuse. Overall, routine screening for domestic violence allows for efficient managementof woman abuse cases through the family law system.