Child custody decisions in families experiencing woman abuse

Abstract

Both battered women and their partners are at risk for abusing their children, but social work practitioners are often unaware of the much greater risk presented by men who batter. This article reviews the scientific literature comparing the risk that battered women and men who batter will physically abuse their children. Several tenets of social work practice lore are challenged, and practitioners are cautioned about the use of psychological tests and profiles to judge child abuse potential and parenting ability. The hazards of mediation and joint custody are discussed, as well as the limitations of treatment for men who batter.