The problem When a woman leaves an abusive relationship, family court outcomes can play a key role in improving the safety and quality of her life and that of her children. However, the family law system can also increase risk…
Category: Research
Family violence is relevant in family law processes
A new report published by the Department of Justice Canada describes what many of us already know about family violence and family law processes: In a family law context, violence, abuse and neglect within families can have wide ranging, long-term…
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: The importance of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners
Our new report on family violence screening tools for lawyers and other family law practitioners is now available from the Department of Justice Canada. Family law lawyers are often the first point of contact for those entering the family justice…
The importance of family violence screening tools for family law practitioners
Since 2003, Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee consistently finds that a history of domestic violence and pending or recent separation are the first and second highest risk factors for lethality in domestic homicides. Yet there is no universal family…
Family violence screening tools for family law practitioners
Update: This report on family violence screening is now available on the Department of Justice website. We are excited to announce that Luke’s Place has recently completed a research project with funding from the federal Department of Justice that looks…
What do Domestic Violence Death Review Committees do?
Domestic Violence Death Review Committees (DVDRCs) exist in a number of locations around the world, including Ontario. They are multi-disciplinary committees of experts who review domestic violence related deaths and provide recommendations for change and advice, largely to government and…
Tagged with: domestic violence homicide
When Shared Parenting and the Safety of Women and Children Collide
Shared parenting and joint custody are common outcomes in family law cases, even when there is a history of woman abuse. Such custody and access arrangements mean that an abusive partner can continue his manipulation of and violence against the…
Virtual legal clinic: Video conferencing for justice
Luke’s Place is establishing a virtual legal clinic for women who have left abusive relationships and are involved with family court. Using web-based video conferencing, the clinic will connect women in rural and remote areas to family law lawyers elsewhere.…
Violence Against Women: Health and Justice for Canadian Muslim Women
Luke’s Place Legal Director Pamela Cross has recently completed a project with the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. Pamela conducted research and wrote a paper that examined four aspects of violence against women in Canadian Muslim communities: female genital cutting,…
Law Commission of Ontario releases final family law report
The Law Commission of Ontario has just released its report “Increasing Access to Family Justice Through Comprehensive Entry Points and Inclusivity.” The report provides very useful, detailed information about the nature of Ontario families in 2013, examining particular barriers faced…