Court Support Services Division
Family Services (Civil and Criminal)
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Family Services is dedicated to assisting courts and clients in resolving family and interpersonal conflicts in a timely way.
In the Family Civil Court: Family Services addresses concerns such as child custody, child access, financial matters, property disputes, and Temporary Restraining Orders. This is done through Alternative Dispute Resolution services, such as Pre-trial Settlement Negotiation, Conciliation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution Conferences, where disputes can often be addressed in a way that promotes individual responsibility and self-determination. There are situations when parents cannot reach agreement regarding their parenting dispute. In these cases, Family Services conducts issue-Focused Evaluations and Comprehensive Evaluations. Parenting plans that are focused on the best interests of the children are then recommended to the parents and the court. Family Services also coordinates outside services such as Supervised Visitation, Transition in Parenting, and the Parent Education Program.
In the Family Criminal Court: Family Services does intake assessments of individuals arrested for family violence crimes and supervises those individuals before trial.
The goal is to enhance victim safety; hold offenders accountable; and, prevent, reduce, and stop the frequency and severity of violence against victims. At arraignment, Family Services assesses the defendant’s likelihood of future violence and makes recommendations to the court, including the appropriate level of protective orders. Family Services conducts comprehensive assessments and prepares written reports that identify and summarize each client’s needs. Pre-trial supervision is provided to monitor whether individuals comply with conditions ordered by the court.
CSSD Family Services also has contracts with several organizations that offer programs to defendants that address domestic violence. These include the Family Violence Education Program, Explore, and Evolve.
For information on Family Matters please contact Director Stephen Grant