Preface

1. Overview of Domestic Violence
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Defining Domestic Violence
1.3. Patterns of Violence
1.4. Causes of Abuse
1.4.1. The Environment of Abuse
1.4.2. Factors That Commonly Accompany Domestic Violence Without Causing It
1.4.3. Illness-Based Violence
1.5. Understanding the Abuser - Assessing Lethality
1.5.1. Characteristics of the Abuser
1.5.2. Lethality Factors
1.6. Abusive Tactics
1.7. Understanding the Victim
1.7.1. How Victims Cope with Domestic Violence
1.7.2. Victims in Court
1.8. Domestic Abuse and Children
1.8.1. Children's Involvement in Adult Violence
1.8.2. Effects of Adult Violence on Children
1.9. Ethical Concerns with Judicial Participation in a Coordinated Community Response

2. Civil Orders of Protection: Issuance
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Overview of Orders of Protection
2.2.1. Purpose
2.2.2. Effectiveness
2.2.3. Constitutionality
2.2.4. Independent Actions for Protection Orders
2.2.5. The Role of the Domestic Violence Commissioners
2.3. Family Violence Protection Act Provisions
2.3.1. Who May Petition for an Order of Protection
2.3.2. Who May Be Subject to an Order of Protection
2.3.3. Specific Persons Protected
2.3.4. Grounds for Issuance of a Civil Protection Order
2.4. Jurisdiction and Venue
2.4.1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
2.4.2. Personal Jurisdiction
2.4.3. Venue
2.4.4. Filing Deadlines
2.5. Relief Available Through a Protection Order
2.5.1. Broad Judicial Authority to Provide Relief and Protection
2.5.2. Checklist of Relief Available
2.5.3. Content of Order
2.6. Ex Parte and Temporary Orders of Protection
2.6.1. Authority in the Family Violence Protection Act
2.6.2. Ex Parte Emergency Orders of Protection: Requirements
2.6.3. Review of Emergency Protection Orders
2.6.4. When an Ex Parte Order is Not Granted
2.6.5. Temporary Orders of Protection
2.6.6. Recording Abused Party's Injuries
2.7. Pretrial Issues
2.7.1. Filing and Service Fees
2.7.2. Service of Process and Service of Protection Orders
2.7.3. Discovery
2.7.4. Case Scheduling
2.7.5. Practices to Improve Court Effectiveness in Protection Order Proceedings
2.7.6. Representation Issues
2.8. Trial Issues
2.8.1. No Right to Jury Trial
2.8.2. Failure to Appear
2.8.3. Notice and Review of Other Court Proceedings and Orders
2.8.4. Record and Findings
2.8.5. Consent Orders and Mediation
2.8.6. Mutual Civil Protection Orders
2.8.7. Modification of Civil Protection Orders
2.8.8. Extensions of Orders/Reissuance in Writing
2.8.9. Dismissals and Withdrawals of Orders

3. Civil Orders of Protection: Enforcement
3.1. Overview
3.2. Judicial Procedures to Help Ensure Compliance with Orders of Protection
3.2.1. Procedures for Sending Protection Orders to the Local Law Enforcement Agency
3.2.2. Filing Orders of Protection in the FACTS(tm) System
3.2.3. Judicial Tools to Enforce Compliance with Orders of Protection
3.3. Remedies to Punish Violations of Orders of Protection
3.3.1. Arrest
3.3.2. Misdemeanor Charge
3.3.3. Contempt of Court
3.4. Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders Under the Federal Violence Against Women Act
3.4.1. When is a Protection Order Entitled to Full Faith and Credit?
3.4.2. What Types of Orders are Entitled to Full Faith and Credit?
3.4.3. How Does the Enforcing Court Give Full Faith and Credit to Another State or Tribal Order?
3.4.4. Facilitating Enforcement of New Mexico Orders of Protection in Other Jurisdictions
3.4.5. Members of the Armed Forces and Civilian Employees of the Department of Defense
3.5. Trial Issues
3.6. Sentencing Contemnors for Violations of Protection Orders
3.6.1. Standards for Determining the Length of a Sentence
3.6.2. Checklist of Aggravating or Mitigating Circumstances
3.6.3. Sentencing When There is a History of Prior Contempt Findings

4. Child Custody and Visitation
4.1. Procedural Context
4.1.1 Criminal Cases
4.1.2 Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
4.1.3 Civil Domestic Violence Proceedings
4.2. Custody Issues in Civil Domestic Violence Cases
4.2.1. Emergency Action to Protect Alleged Victims and Children
4.2.2. Transfer of Issues Where Other Custody Cases are Pending
4.2.3. Resolution of Issues Where No Other Custody Cases are Pending
4.2.4. Modification of Protection Orders Involving Child Custody or Support
4.2.5. Enforcement
4.3. Domestic Violence Issues in Child Custody Cases
4.3.1. Mediation
4.3.2. "Best Interests of the Child" Standard
4.3.3. Presumption in Favor of Joint Custody
4.3.4. How Domestic Violence Affects the Analysis
4.3.5. Modification of an Award of Child Custody in Domestic Relations Cases
4.3.6. Considerations When Other Family Members Request Custody
4.3.7. Enforcement
4.4. Visitation Provisions
4.4.1. Counseling
4.4.2. Supervised v. Unsupervised Visits
4.4.3. Restrictions on Place or Time of Exchange
4.4.4. Communication
4.5. Expert Testimony
4.6. Confidentiality
4.6.1. Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege
4.6.2. Husband-Wife Privilege
4.6.3. Victim's Address and Phone Number
4.7. Child Witnesses
4.7.1. Required Child Testimony
4.7.2. Discretionary Child Testimony
4.8. Court Procedure When Issuing Custody and/or Visitation Orders
4.8.1. Use of Specific Language in Orders
4.8.2. Pro Se Parties
4.8.3. Safety Concerns in the Courtroom
4.8.4. Court-Provided Resources and Information
4.9. Visitation by Grandparents
4.9.1. Applicability
4.9.2. Availability
4.9.3. Factors to Consider
4.9.4. Tools for the Court
4.9.5. Scope of Visitation Privilege

5. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect
5.1. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse or Neglect
5.2. Assuring the Child's Interests are Represented in Court Proceedings
5.3. Community Groups that Can Assist the Court
5.4. Evaluating Allegations That the Domestic Violence Perpetrator is Also Abusing the Children
5.5. Evaluating Allegations That the Abused Parent is Abusing the Children
5.6. Possible Remedies for Protection of Children and Abused Parents
5.7. Reluctant Witnesses
5.8. Coordination Among Courts

6. Dissolution of Marriage
6.1. Overview
6.2. Child Custody and Support
6.2.1. Custody
6.2.2. Support
6.3. Bankruptcy Issues
6.4. Miscellaneous Concerns
6.4.1. Medical Insurance
6.4.2. Reconciliation Counseling or Mediation Orders
6.4.3. Awarding Attorney's Fees
6.4.4. Permanent Restraining Orders

7. Interspousal Torts
7.1. Overview
7.2. Interspousal Torts: Persons
7.2.1. Assault and Battery
7.2.2. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
7.2.3. Wrongful Death and Undue Influence and Fraud
7.2.4. Tortious Infliction of a Venereal Disease
7.3. Interspousal Torts: Property
7.3.1. Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Constructive Fraud
7.3.2. Actual Fraud or Misrepresentation
7.3.3. Intentional Destruction of Property
7.3.4. Conversion
7.4. Interspousal Torts: Other
7.4.1. Spousal Consortium
7.4.2. Custodial Interference
7.4.3. Malicious Prosecution and Abuse of Process
7.4.4. Libel and Slander
7.4.5. Outrage
7.4.6. Prima Facie Tort
7.5. Statute of Limitations
7.6. Interspousal Torts and Divorce
7.6.1 Proceeds
7.6.2. Characterization of Proceeds
7.6.3. Collection of Proceeds
7.6.4. Effect of Choice of Laws
7.7. Procedural Issues
7.7.1. Problems of Joinder and Overlap of Claims
7.7.2. Duplication of Claims and Separation of Claims
7.7.3. Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel Problems Arising With Separate Claims
7.8. Claims After Divorce

8. Crimes Involving Domestic Violence
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Criminal Conduct Under the Family Violence Protection Act
8.2.1. Overview
8.2.2. Definitions
8.2.3. Orders of Protection
8.3. Crimes Against Household Members Act
8.3.1. Overview
8.3.2. Definitions
8.3.3. Crimes
8.4. Harassment and Stalking Act
8.4.1. Overview
8.4.2. Harassment
8.4.3. Stalking
8.4.4. Aggravated Stalking
8.4.5. Exceptions to Stalking Provisions
8.5. The Victims Of Crime Act
8.5.1. Application of the Victims of Crime Act
8.5.2. Victims' Rights Under the Act
8.5.3. Law Enforcement Duties Under the Act
8.5.4. Prosecutors' Duties Under teh Act
8.5.5. The Court's Duties Under the Act
8.6. Related Provisions
8.6.1. Arrests Without Warrants at Domestic Violence Disturbances
8.6.2. Free Forensic Exams for Victims of Sexual Crimes
8.6.3. Fee Waiver for Certain Crime Victims

9 Conditional PreTrial Release in Criminal Proceedings
9.1. Overview
9.2. Procedures for Issuing Conditional Release Orders
9.2.1. Setting Conditions Early
9.2.2. Appointing Designees to Set Bond and Conditions of Release
9.2.3. Appointing Counsel for the Defendant
9.2.4. Required Written Statements by Judge
9.3. Factors to Consider in Determining Conditions of Release
9.4. Contents of Conditional Release Orders
9.4.1. Court Rule Requirements
9.4.2. Promoting Pretrial Safety in Cases Involving Allegations of Domestic Violence
9.5. Modification of Conditional Release Orders
9.5.1. Requests for Modification by the Defendant
9.5.2. Requests for Modification by the Alleged Victim
9.6. Enforcement Proceedings
9.7. Denying Bond

10. Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases
10.1. Overview
10.2. Discovery
10.2.1. Victim/Counselor Privilege
10.2.2. Victim's Location
10.3. Jury Selection Issues
10.4. Victim/Witness Testimony
10.4.1. Reasons Underlying Victim Reluctance or Refusal to Testify
10.4.2. Victim Reluctance or Refusal to Testify: Options for the Court
10.4.3. Testimonial Privileges
10.4.4. Child Testimony in Domestic Violence Cases
10.5. Expert Testimony
10.5.1. Expert Testimony on the Experience of Battered Women
10.5.2. Expert Testimony on Culture
10.6. Admissibility of Character and Conduct Evidence
10.7. The Hearsay Rule, Exceptions and Related Issues
**Interactive Chart: Admissibility of Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases
10.7.1. Reasons Underlying Victim Reluctance or Refusal to Testify
10.7.2. Victim Reluctance or Refusal to Testify: Options for the Court
10.7.3. Testimonial Privileges
10.7.4. Child Testimony in Domestic Violence Cases

11. Sentencing Options for Domestic Violence Offenders
11.1. Identifying and Assessing Domestic Violence Offenses
11.1.1. Domestic Violence Crimes
11.1.2. Court of Record
11.1.3. Lethality Assessment
11.2. Considerations for Incarceration versus Probation
11.2.1. Sentencing Assessment
11.2.2. Victim Restitution
11.2.3. Ordering Batterer Treatment in Probationary Sentences
11.3. General Considerations in Ordering Batterer Intervention
11.4. Monitoring Compliance with Conditions of Probation

Interactive Chart: Admissibility of Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases

THIS BENCHBOOK WAS DEVELOPED UNDER GRANT NO. SJI-99-N-001 FROM THE STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE. THE PROJECT WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 97-WE-VX-0095 (S-2) AWARDED BY THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE POINTS OF VIEW EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OR POLICIES OF THE STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE OR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

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