Domestic Violence Courts

Specialized domestic violence courts are designed to improve victim safety and enhance defendant accountability. Today, there are nearly 300 courts nationwide that have special processing mechanisms for domestic violence cases. The Center for Court Innovation suggests replicating the Brooklyn Domestic Violence Court protocol, which has served as a model for dozens of violence courts around the country.

A more recent development in New York is the integrated domestic violence court. In these courts, cases are assigned to a single presiding judge who is cross-trained in civil and criminal domestic violence issues. He or she handles all of a family’s domestic violence-related matters, including child custody and visitation; civil protection orders; and matrimonial actions.