Justice metamorphosis: Moving from reactive to proactive strategies to remotely protect families from intimate partner violence

• Published date: 01 January 2024
• Author: Alicia Davis,Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee,Conor Geiger
• Date: 01 January 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12767

SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE

Justice metamorphosis: Moving from reactive to

proactive strategies to remotely protect families

from intimate partner violence

Alicia Davis | Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee | Conor Geiger

National Center for State Courts, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Correspondence

Alicia Davis, National Center for State Courts,

300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA

23185, USA.

Email: adavis@ncsc.org

Abstract

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote access to

courts through e-filing and virtual hearings. Concurrently,

courts experienced an increase in intimate partner violence

cases due in part to heightened stress during the pandemic.

Virtual technology became crucial for individuals seeking

relief from harm when traditional support systems were lim-

ited. However, remote proceedings lack the personal con-

nection found in-person, making it challenging to handle

complex cases involving parenting and intimate partner vio-

lence. Courts must strike a balance between protecting par-

ents and children from abuse and ensuring due process and

appropriate parenting time for the accused party. Some

courts have considered the user experience in intimate part-

ner violence and parenting cases, but as remote justice

become the norm, it is essential for all courts to evaluate

and refine the tools, policies, and procedures put in place

during the emergency response to the pandemic to be more

proactive in supporting court users. State courts in Kansas,

North Carolina, and Arizona are cited as examples for

efforts to enhance remote justice efficiency and quality in

these cases involving intimate partner violence and parent-

ing. Further research is recommended to explore the chal-

lenges and possibilities of using virtual technology in these

situations.

DOI: 10.1111/fcre.12767

© 2023 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

86 Family Court Rev. 2024;62:86–96.

wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fcre