Berger, P. (2014). Divorce is big business. Hawaii Business Magazine. https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/divorce-is-big-business/
A journalistic overview shows how divorce has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry with strong financial incentives.

Bartlow, R. D. (2017). Judicial response to court-assisted child murders. Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, 10(1), 7–54.
This study documents cases where judicial decisions contributed to child homicides and analyzes systemic failures in court responses.

Center for Judicial Excellence. (2024). U.S. child homicide data: 2008–present. Center for Judicial Excellence. https://centerforjudicialexcellence.org/cje-projects-initiatives/child-murder-data/
This resource compiles national data on child homicides related to custody and family court contexts.

Chesler, P. (2011). Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody. Chicago Review Press.
This book examines systemic bias and legal struggles faced by mothers in child custody disputes.

Dalgarno, E., Ayeb-Karlsson, S., Bramwell, D., Barnett, A., & Verma, A. (2024). Health-related experiences of family court and domestic abuse in England. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 21(3), 1–28.
This research highlights severe health impacts on domestic abuse survivors involved in England’s family court system.

Dichter, M. E., Thomas, K. A., Crits-Christoph, P., Ogden, S. N., & Rhodes, K. V. (2018). Coercive control in intimate partner violence. Psychology of Violence, 8(5), 596–604.
This article analyzes how coercive control shapes women’s experiences of intimate partner violence and danger.

European Parliament. (2021). European Parliament resolution of 6 October 2021 on the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children. European Parliament. https://perma.cc/962L-QJDQ
This resolution condemns custody practices that endanger women and children and calls for EU-wide reforms.

Friedman, G. (2019). Fatal court: “The harm to children in the nation’s family courts has reached crisis proportions.” Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2019/9/17/20805882/fatal-family-court-parental-rights-custody-battles-child-deaths-harm-center-for-judicial-excellence/
This investigative report argues that U.S. family courts routinely fail to protect children from preventable harm.

George Washington University. (2021). Draft summary: Overview of family court outcomes study. National Institute of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/302141.pdf
This draft summary outlines preliminary findings on patterns and safety issues in U.S. family court outcomes.

Ireland, G., Wijlaars, L., Jay, M., & Gilbert, R. (2024). Increased mortality among mothers involved in family court care proceedings compared with their peers in England. International Journal of Population Data Science, 9(5): 162.
This study finds that mothers in care proceedings face significantly higher mortality rates than similar mothers not in the system.

Johnson, M. E. (2008). Redefining harm, reimagining remedies, and reclaiming domestic violence law. UC Davis Law Review, 42, 1107–1180.
This article argues for reforming domestic violence law to better capture complex harms and improve protective remedies.

Karbasi, Z., Safdari, R., & Eslami, P. (2022). The silent crisis of child abuse in the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Health Science Reports, 5(5), e790.
This review identifies increased risks and reduced detection of child abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kõlves, K. (2010). Child suicide, family environment, and economic crisis. Crisis, 31(3), 115–117.
This article explores how economic stress and family instability contribute to elevated child suicide risk.

Kuehn, B. M. (2020). Surge in child abuse, harm during COVID-19 pandemic reported. JAMA, 324(7), 621.
This news report summarizes rising concerns about increased child abuse during the pandemic.

Lee, B. X., & Lee, G. (2025). A triple pandemic: COVID-19, violence against children, and the crisis in family courts. Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4, 1481455.
This article argues that COVID-19, rising violence against children, and family court failures constitute a triple global crisis.

Meier, J. S. (2020). U.S. child custody outcomes in cases involving parental alienation and abuse allegations: What do the data show? Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 42(1), 92–105.
This study shows that abuse claims often lead to unfavorable custody outcomes for the reporting parent, especially when parental alienation is alleged.

Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody. (2023). Facts. https://rcdvcpc.org/facts.html
This webpage provides key statistics on domestic violence, child protection, and custody-related risks.

Saunders, D. G., Faller, K. C., & Tolman, R. M. (2011). Child custody evaluators’ beliefs about domestic abuse allegations. U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238891.pdf
This report examines how custody evaluators’ beliefs and training influence their handling of domestic abuse claims.

Sheehy, E., & Lapierre, S. (2020). Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 42(1), 1–4.
This introduction frames the issue’s focus on family court challenges and the risks faced by abuse survivors.

Shengold, L. (1991). Soul murder: The effects of childhood abuse and deprivation. Fawcett Columbine.
This book discusses the lifelong psychological damage caused by severe childhood abuse and emotional deprivation.

Silberg, J. (2008). How Many Children are Court-Ordered into Unsupervised Contact with an Abusive Parent after Divorce? Leadership Council. http://www.leadershipcouncil.org/1/med/PR3.html
This report estimates the number of children placed into unsafe, unsupervised contact with abusive parents through court orders.

Šimonović, D., Gbedemah, H., Radačić, I., Acar, F., Macaulay, M. M., Asuagbor, L., et al. (2019). Intimate Partner Violence against Women is an Essential Factor in the Determination of Child Custody, Say Women’s Rights Experts. United Nations Human Rights Council. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Women/SR/StatementVAW_Custody.pdf
This UN statement asserts that intimate partner violence must be prioritized in custody determinations to safeguard women and children.

Siltala, H., Hisasue, T., Hietamäki, J., Saari, J., Laajasalo, T., & October, M., et al. (2023). Domestic violence-related use of services and the resulting costs in health, social and legal services. Finland Prime Minister’s Office. https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/04096fea-79c1-447c-b56a-c415c1f3aed3/content
This study estimates the broad economic costs created by domestic-violence-related service use across multiple sectors.

Teicher, M. H. (2018). Childhood trauma and the enduring consequences of forcibly separating children from parents at the United States border. BMC Medicine, 16, 1–3.
This article reviews the lasting psychological and biological effects of forced parent–child separation.

Thomas, E. (2023). Family courts: Children forced into contact with fathers accused of abuse. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66531409
This investigation reports that UK family courts frequently require children to have contact with fathers accused of abuse.

United Nations. (2023). Custody, violence against women and violence against children: Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5336-custody-violence-against-women-and-violence-against-children
This UN report warns that custody practices worldwide often expose women and children to ongoing violence.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Child Maltreatment 2010. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm
This annual federal report provides national statistics on child abuse and neglect investigations and outcomes.

Wilde, S., Sheeran, N., & Douglas, H. (2024). The psychological impact on mothers who have experienced domestic violence when navigating the family court system. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 31(4), 764–791.
This review finds that mothers who have survived domestic violence experience significant psychological distress when engaging with family courts.

World Health Organization. (2020). Global Status Report on Preventing Violence against Children 2020. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/332394/9789240004191-eng.pdf
This global report evaluates countries’ progress in preventing violence against children and identifies major gaps.

World Health Organization. (2021). Global, Regional and National Prevalence Estimates for Intimate Partner Violence: Prevalence and Health Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Non-Partner Sexual Violence. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564625
This report presents comprehensive global estimates of intimate partner and non-partner sexual violence affecting women.