Batterers Coercive Control Tactics Across Multiple Settings is the topic I will speak on at the Sex Offender Management Conference in Breckenridge, CO in July, 2011. In preparation for the conference, I reviewed my previous training on Coercive Control Tactics (CCT). Because this conference is focused on sex offender treatment, I wanted to make my presentation closely related to their training needs.
The primary focus of domestic violence research focuses on the criminal aspects of batterers. I wanted to look at the crossover of battering and sex offending. What stands out is the two areas have similar dynamics of power and control and a similar cycle of offending. However, I find there are some missing links to help treatment professionals connect the dots. While both domestic violence and sex offending are criminal acts under statute, when the two are presented together in court they usually come out in civil proceedings. These civil proceedings are usually related to child custody/parenting time. An entirely different set of factors are addressed in Family Relations Courts.
Family Relations Courts are interested in children maintaining contact with both parents. They work with the parents to find parenting time arrangements based on “the best interests of the child”. Another standard often used by family relations court is the “Friendly Parent Doctrine”. When these standards are applied, children are often caught in the middle as the “protective parent” attempts to make sure the children are physically and emotionally safe. At the same time, the “abusive parent” wants to maintain power and control over the children and his ex-partner. This is where Coercive Control Tactics (CCT) are used with court-related personnel.
Based on my research, Court-related personnel have limited understanding of how CCT are used with them to manipulate them. This results in courts and court-related personnel inadvertently colluding with the “abusive parent”. In this way, “abusive parents” gain custody/primary parenting responsibilities of their children. Once the children are under the control of the “abusive parent” or sometimes before they gain control, “abusive parents” are in a position to sexually abuse their children without interference from the justice system.
You are probably asking yourself the same questions I asked myself when I first learned about the problems in the Family Relations Courts. How can the courts knowingly place children in at-risk situations with an “abusive parent”? Here are the points I am researching presently: What are the missing links, to bring judges, child custody evaluators/child family investigators, mediators, parenting coordinators and other civil court personnel in line with understanding and supporting protective mothers?
- Missing link — comprehensive definition of coercive control tactics in statute
- Missing link–comprehensive valid instrument to assess coercive control tactics used in
relationships
These two missing links are keys to the answer I will provide through future posts.
Discover answers to these questions in upcoming teleseminar trainings through the Virtual Training Center. Go to http://HouseOfPeacePubs.com/dv_courseinformation.htm
for your next scheduled course “Batterers as Parents”.
Peaceful journey,
Dr. Debra
P.S. Be sure to plan your registration for 7 days prior to the course start date.
P.P.S. Register now for your courses starting April 25 and 26.