The legislation, which limits the use of reunification therapies and increases scrutiny of expert witnesses, follows ProPublica’s reporting on courts’ handling of custody cases involving allegations of violence.
The turbulent emotion brought on by parent custody battles often affects more than just the couple involved. Children caught in the middle of situations like these experience heavy impacts, as emotional well-being and mental health are often at risk. In cases where domestic violence is involved, they are also vulnerable to physical harm. H.B. 272,.
A bill that would require courts to prioritize child safety in custody decisions cleared its first hurdle at the Capitol. The move follows a KSL Investigation on how courts weigh parental rights against child safety.
The Utah Legislature is considering bills on domestic violence to reduce the state’s rate and provide survivors of domestic violence with the resources they need. Read more.