Georgia State University Law Review Volume 33 Article 2 Issue 2 Winter 2016-2017 3-9-2017 Criminal Law as Family Law Andrea L. Dennis University of Georgia School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/gsulr Part of the Civil Law Commons, Criminal Law Commons, and the Family Law Commons Recommended Citation Andrea L. Dennis, Criminal Law as Family Law, 33 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 285 (2017). Available at: https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/gsulr/vol33/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Publications at Reading Room. It has been accepted for inclusion in Georgia State University Law Review by an authorized editor of Reading Room. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Dennis: Criminal Law as Family Law CRIMINAL LAW AS FAMILY LAW Andrea L. Dennis* INTRODUCTION Paul wanted to live with either his mother or his girlfriend in his old neighborhood, but his supervision officer told him he could not live in the neighborhood because that is where he would get in trouble. Instead, Paul lived in a three-quarter rooming house, hoping his mom or girlfriend would soon move so he could live with one of them.1 James wanted to visit his daughter who lived out of state, but his supervision officer would not authorize the travel.2 Alex was arrested on a parole-violation warrant while at the hospital with his girlfriend awaiting the birth of their child.3 Chuck worried that when he visited with his daughter at a court- supervised daycare, police would arrest him in front of his daughter for a warrant violation.4 The stories of Paul, James, Alex, and Chuck—all of whom were being supervised in the community as part of a criminal case—reveal the extent to which the criminal justice system can interfere with family life and family autonomy.5 Their stories, though, are but a small sample of what individuals and families under criminal justice control experience.