RT Article
T1 Therapeutically (Un)Just Interactions in Family Court Proceedings
JF Criminal justice policy review
VO 31
IS 2
SP 262
OP 286
A1 Dollar, Cindy Brooks 1975-
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1774385244
AB Court systems have a unique and powerful impact on the lives of persons who enter into them. In recognition of some of the deleterious effects of traditional court models, scholars and practitioners advocate for alternative court processes, especially through the implementation of specialty courts. Family court is a type of specialized court, which handles legal disputes among family members. The stated mission of family courts reflects notions of therapeutic jurisprudence; however, scarce research examines if therapeutic jurisprudence is actually practiced in family court settings. Using 12 months of observational data of over 100 hearings, the present study assesses the extent to which principles of therapeutic jurisprudence are apparent in court proceedings. I find that although therapeutically just interactions are common in family court, some encounters remain antitherapeutic or damaging. The implication of family court’s current operation within the broader “justice” system is discussed.
K1 Family Court
K1 Problem-solving courts
K1 specialty court
K1 Therapeutic Jurisprudence
DO 10.1177/0887403418812170