Logan to Educate Judges on Protective Orders

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 12, 2010) − A University of Kentucky professor will address a national gathering of judges later this month to present the findings from the most comprehensive research in the nation on the effectiveness of civil protective orders for victims of domestic or intimate-partner violence. The landmark study was funded by the National Institute of Justice.

TK Logan, professor in the UK Department of Behavioral Science and the Center on Drug & Alcohol Research, was invited by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges to present the educational session at the group's annual conference on July 19 in San Diego.
 

"It is a rare honor to be invited to talk about research at a national conference for judges," Logan said. "Our research will give the judges some information on the effectiveness of a justice system intervention that they deal with every day but never know how it impacts victims and their children. This study shows that most victims that obtain civil protective orders experienced reduced violence and abuse, their health quality of life increases substantially, and their children benefit as well."
 

Judge Joann Wise, of Fayette County Family Court, says this information is critical for juvenile and family court judges.
 

“Family Court Judges are on the front lines, right along with law enforcement, in addressing domestic violence in our communities," Wise said. "Judges must be educated about all the very positive results of entering civil protective orders so they can better understand domestic violence, better address the needs of domestic violence victims through appropriate court orders and work toward reducing the negative impact of domestic violence on victims and their children.”
 

Logan's talk, titled "Civil Protection Orders: Justice or Just a Piece of Paper?" will draw upon her extensive research, which in the past year has gained considerable attention nationwide from justice experts and the news media. 
 

In a study concluded last year, Logan found that half of all victims experienced no protective-order violations.  Of those who did experience violations, significant reductions were noted in overall abuse, fear of future harm, and distress due to abuse.  Logan also found that subjectively, women appreciate the protective order and believe it to be effective. Logan also found that protective orders result in substantial cost savings to society (an estimated $85 million annually in Kentucky). The majority of victims believed the effectiveness was because the respondent was afraid of going to jail; however, overall arrest rates and official charges for reported violations were low.
 

"Enforcement is clearly an important component, but there is a need for more assertive court action," Logan said. "This is especially true in cases where the violent partner stalks the victim. Stalking is one issue that needs more attention at all levels.”
 

Logan’s study discovered critical findings about higher-risk cases that she says need to be taken more seriously by the justice system. However, the findings also provide important feedback to judges about the positive effects of their decisions on difficult partner violence cases.
 

For more information, you may download a fact sheet in PDF format highlighting findings from Logan's research.