Judge's Bench Book for Application of the Integrated Framework for the Assessment of Intimate Partner Violence in Child Custody Disputes

Abstract

A more succinct bench-book version of the Integrated Framework and Forensic Model (Austin & Drozd, 2012) for the assessment of intimate partner violence (IPV) in child custody disputes is presented. The revised IPV typology integrates the main subtypes of coercive control, conflict-instigated, and separation-associated IPV with major violence risk factors. The 10 behavioral dimensions are described in a behavioral grid analysis for describing the past pattern of IPV, conducting a violence risk assessment, and making parenting plan recommendations. A recommended forensic assessment protocol and summary for judicial consideration are presented.