Continuing Judicial Skills in Domestic Violence Cases Program

Program Overview And Workshop Description

The Continuing Judicial Skills in Domestic Violence Cases (CJS) Program is specifically designed for judges who have successfully completed the Enhancing Judicial Skills in Domestic Violence Cases Workshop (EJS) or an equivalent program. The CJS Program offers an opportunity for in-depth programs on specific topics.

Who should attend

All state and tribal court judges and judicial officers (commissioners, referees, etc.) nationwide who have successfully completed the EJS or an equivalent program are eligible to attend the workshops, but priority will be given to judges from jurisdictions currently receiving one of the following OVW Grants: (1) Grants to Encourage Arrest, (2) STOP Violence Against Indian Women Grants, or (3) Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant; (4) Court Training and Improvement Program. Program Priority is also given to OVW funded agencies jurisdictions that send more than one judge. The program is offered free of charge. Local OVW funded agencies and some courts might cover their judges’ travel and per diem costs. All participants are responsible for their own travel and per diem costs.

Continuing Education Credits

NJIDV does not offer national CE/CLE credits. However, NJIDV provides each participant that completes the course with a completion certification and verification of attendance hours. We will also provide materials to participants to submit education credits by the participant in their respective jurisdictions.

CJS TOPICS

Civil Protection Orders:

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Identify risk and danger assessment issues 
• Use a collaborative approach to prevent respondents subject to civil protection orders from having access to firearms.
• Apply an understanding of domestic violence when issuing economic relief on behalf of victims and their children.
• Protect children using civil protection orders.
• Enhance your civil protection order court’s ability to provide access to justice to litigants from underserved communities.

Creating Equal Justice for People with Cognitive and Intellectual Disability in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases (NEW)

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Apply an understanding of how cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities present in domestic violence and sexual assault cases.
• Articulate the social and courtroom realities around cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities as they relate to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
• Identify how cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities present in domestic violence and sexual assault cases impact the experience of the survivor in the court environment.
• Manage cases involving litigants with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities to ensure access to justice.
• Identify collaborative resources within your community to assist litigants with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
• Apply the concept of procedural justice to the nuanced decision-making process in cases with victims and perpetrators with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

Criminal Court Cases Involving Domestic Violence:

• Set bail, establish conditions of release, and structure sentences that reduce risk, promote victim safety and autonomy, and minimize economic deprivation while accounting for collateral consequences in domestic violence cases;
• Conduct ongoing, relevant case evaluation, including dangerousness assessments, throughout a criminal case;
• Rule correctly on pretrial motions to exclude evidence after Crawford and its progeny;
• Manage the legal implications of victim recantation;
• Develop and implement appropriate procedures to obtain information necessary for valid judicial decision-making;
• Implement effective procedures for handling firearms issues at all stages of a case; and
• Create effective ongoing structures for maximizing compliance with post-disposition controls.

Cyber Violence (NEW)

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Describe the importance of technology in society and in our courts;
• Identify the use and misuse of technology in cyber violence cases;
• Analyze and rule on cyber violence cases including evidentiary considerations;
• Design a plan for judicial leadership to address cyber violence and the role of technology in your court.

 Effective Accountability in Domestic Violence Cases:

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Create a courtroom culture that helps victims feel safe and affirms the judge as the established authority;
• Tailor interventions and court orders to increase safety and reduce recidivism;
• In light of the current research, examine the appropriateness and effectiveness of different BIP models and other forms of intervention and oversight; and
• Develop effective system coordination and program oversight mechanisms in collaboration with the community.

Family Court Cases Involving Domestic Violence:

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Evaluate whether domestic violence cases are appropriate for ADR processes in family courts, and, if so, develop safeguards to use in those cases;
• Promote safety and accountability in all family court-related interventions, such as custody evaluations and assignment of parenting coordinators, GALs, parenting education, supervised visitation, and arbitration;
• Craft effective parenting orders to match unique family circumstances and needs; and
• Determine the appropriate role of the family court to monitor and review custody/parenting decisions. 

 Immigration and Domestic Violence

Participants in the course will be better able to:

• Identify “red flags” in cases that may have immigration or status consequences;
• Assess the immigration implications of civil protection orders and criminal convictions;
• Enhance access to justice for immigrant victims of domestic violence and trafficking;
• Craft civil dispositions that enhance victim safety and autonomy while considering collateral consequences; and
• Document facts in state court proceedings to preserve the victim’s immigration remedies.