Georgia Domestic Violence Benchbook Joan Prittie & Nancy Hunter
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GEORGIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BENCHBOOK JOAN PRITTIE & NANCY HUNTER TH 14 ED. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. viii PREFACE TO THE 14TH EDITION...................................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. xii Chapter 1 CIVIL PROTECTIVE ORDERS ........................................................................ 1:1 1.1. Overview .............................................................................................................1:1 1.2. Family Violence Protective Orders (O.C.G.A. § 19-13-1 et seq.) .........................1:2 1.3. Stalking Protective Orders (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-94) .................................................1:8 1.4. Employer Protective Orders (O.C.G.A. § 34-1-7) ............................................... 1:11 1.5. Constitutional Considerations ............................................................................ 1:12 1.6. Divorce Action Restraining Orders .................................................................... 1:14 CHAPTER 2 JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE ..................................................... 2:1 2.1. Jurisdiction & Venue ...........................................................................................2:1 2.2. Procedure Generally.............................................................................................2:2 2.3. Petitions ...............................................................................................................2:3 2.4. Ex Parte Orders ....................................................................................................2:4 2.5. Pre-Hearing Process .............................................................................................2:7 2.6. Hearings ............................................................................................................ 2:10 2.7. Employer Protective Order Process .................................................................... 2:13 CHAPTER 3 REMEDIES, SETTLEMENTS, AND ORDERS ..................................... 3:1 3.1. Overview .............................................................................................................3:1 3.2. Remedies .............................................................................................................3:1 3.3. Settlements and Waiver of Remedies ................................................................. 3:22 3.4. Mediation .......................................................................................................... 3:25 3.5. Orders ................................................................................................................ 3:26 Chapter 4 CRIMINAL LAW ................................................................................................ 4:1 4.1. Family Violence Act. ...........................................................................................4:1 4.2. Domestic Violence Crimes ...................................................................................4:2 4.3. Domestic Violence Sentences ............................................................................ 4:12 4.4. Domestic Violence Arrests ................................................................................. 4:16 4.5. Domestic Violence Bonds .................................................................................. 4:19 Chapter 5 EVIDENCE .......................................................................................................... 5:1 5.1. Sufficiency of Evidence .......................................................................................5:1 5.2. Hearsay and Confrontation Issues ........................................................................5:4 5.3. Similar Transactions / Prior Difficulties ............................................................. 5:15 5.4. Defenses and Related Issues............................................................................... 5:20 5.5. Privileges ........................................................................................................... 5:25 5.6. Experts .............................................................................................................. 5:30 5.7. Miscellaneous Issues .......................................................................................... 5:34 Appendix A. DYNAMICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ............................................... A:1 i A. The Blind Men and The Elephant… .................................................................... A:1 B. What Is Domestic Violence? ............................................................................... A:1 C. Who Perpetrates Domestic Violence? ................................................................. A:2 D. Are There Different Kinds of Perpetrators? ......................................................... A:3 E. What Causes Domestic Violence? ....................................................................... A:4 F. Are There Different Kinds of Domestic Violence? .............................................. A:4 G. What’s The Difference Between Episodic Or Situational Couple Violence and Intimate Terrorism? ............................................................................................ A:5 H. In an Intimate Terrorism or Battering Relationship, What Are the Different Forms or Tactics of Abuse? ........................................................................................... A:5 I. Most Other Forms of Abuse Aren’t Criminal Acts. As a Judge, Why Should I be Concerned? ........................................................................................................ A:8 J. So How Can I Discern Whether Violence is Occurring Within a Context of Control? ............................................................................................................. A:9 K. What About When Victims Take the Perpetrator’s Side, Ask the Court to Dismiss a TPO or Remove Conditions of Bond? ................................................................ A:9 L. What Steps Can I Take To Increase The Safety of The Victim and His Or Her Family? ............................................................................................................ A:10 Appendix B. ASSESSING FOR LETHALITY ................................................................. B:1 A. Introduction ........................................................................................................ B:1 B. Lethality Factor List ............................................................................................ B:2 C. Lethality Factors ................................................................................................. B:2 D. Practical Application of Lethality Factors ........................................................... B:5 Appendix C. SCREENING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .......................................... C:1 A. Why is it Important to Screen for Domestic Violence?..........................................................................................................C:1 C:1 B. What Are You Screening For? ………………………………………………….C:1 ........................................................................................................................... C:1 C. What Else Might Screening Help You Detect?.......................................................................................................................C :2 ........................................................................................................................ C:2 D. Things to Consider BEFORE You Begin the Screening…………………………………….C:2 ............................................... C:2 E. Tools for Screening…….………………………….………………………….…………...C:3 ........................................................................................................................... C:3 Appendix D. CHECKLIST FOR EX PARTE APPLICANTS ........................................ D:5 A. Are there past or pending court actions in any court involving any of the parties, children or other issues presented in this case? Examples: .................................. D:5 B. Are there present or past investigations involving any of the parties or children involved in this case? Examples: ........................................................................ D:5 C. Are there present or past Family Violence Protective Orders, Stalking Orders, or Bond Orders limiting contact or applications for any such orders that involve parties or children involved in this petition? ....................................................... D:5 ii D. Does the respondent have access to weapons? ..................................................... D:5 E. Does an attorney represent either party at this time, in this, or any related matter? ........................................................................................................................... D:5 F. Who currently has physical possession of the children at issue? .......................... D:5 G. Has there been a change in the party who has physical possession of the children in the last 12 months? ............................................................................................