DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT
“Stopping the Violence”

Mission:

The mission of the Domestic Violence Court is to effectively manage a specialized domestic abuse docket within the overall framework of affording protective orders and services to victims and their families while at the same time ensuring batterer accountability and encouraging behavior changes.

“Please just make the violence stop,” is the universal request of domestic violence victims to the courts.  Although the court cannot “make” the violence stop – only a batterer can – it can take creative measures to promote victim and family safety and stability along with strongly discouraging continued violence and harassment.

The Rhode Island Family Court Domestic Violence Court is a coordinated response by a court to the scourge of family violence.  This specialty court will focus on cases where there are minor children in the home.  Utilizing a two track approach, the Domestic Violence Court will first assess family needs and strengths as well as identify risks to victims; and, second, hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their abusive behavior.

Compliance Reviews:

After a court finding of domestic abuse, the court will periodically review cases where a child visitation order is entered.  Held monthly or as needed, compliance reviews will be conducted to review a batterers’ compliance with court orders and progress in rehabilitation.  If found to be in violation, the court will impose graduated sanctions upon a perpetrator.  Graduated sanctions include: court reprimand, written apology, increased court appearances, summons to appear, increased or additional interventions, suspension of or change in visitation, notice to probation, parole or law enforcement and, ultimately, a finding of willful contempt and a jail or other sentence.

Batterer interventions are designed to promote the cessation of all violent, controlling, threatening and/or intimidating behavior, whether verbal, physical, emotional, psychological or sexual.  Batterers' programming should focus on changing the underlying attitudes and beliefs which contribute to domestic abuse along with the teaching of new skills and the advancement of accountability.

Goals of Judicial Intervention in Domestic Violence Cases:

1. To promote the cessation of the violence.
2. To protect the abused party, the children of the parties and other family members.
3. To provide services to families.
4. To protect the general public. 
5. To hold perpetrators accountable for their violent behavior and for stopping the behavior.
6. To rehabilitate the perpetrator through appropriate interventions.
7. To convey the message that domestic violence will NOT be tolerated.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah, Jr.                     (401) 458-5300
                 jjeremiah@courts.ri.gov

Magistrate Jeanne Shepard                                  (401) 458-5310
                 jshepard@courts.ri.gov

Linda Lynch, Executive Director                            (401) 458-5026
                  llynch@courts.ri.gov

Kim Seebeck, Director of Domestic Violence
                   Services                                       (401) 458-3377
                  kseebeck@courts.ri.gov