Domestic Violence Benchbook: A Guide to Civil and Criminal Proceedings—Third Edition ©2004–2012

• Domestic Violence Benchbook
  (3.16 MB PDF. If you're having trouble viewing this benchbook, right click the benchbook link and select "save as" and download the pdf file to your desktop. Then open the file from your local drive.)

All updates issued since this benchbook's last publication date have been integrated into the content of the benchbook. The Domestic Violence Benchbook is current through May 1, 2012. The benchbook is in PDF format and is fully searchable using Adobe Acrobat's search features.

NOTE: This benchbook does not represent a wholesale revision of its content. Indexes and other special sections have not been updated yet and are not included.

MJI's Domestic Violence Benchbook is an integrated resource that addresses Michigan law governing domestic violence in the three courtroom contexts where it is most likely to be at issue.

• Personal protection proceedings. The statutes and court rules governing issuance and enforcement of Michigan personal protection orders are covered in detail. The discussion also addresses double jeopardy concerns and full faith and credit for sister state and tribal protection orders.

• Criminal proceedings. "Domestic violence crimes" are defined, with emphasis on domestic assault and stalking offenses. Conditional pretrial release, evidentiary problems, and batterer intervention services are also discussed.

• Divorce and child custody proceedings. The discussion explores the effects of domestic violence on the court's decision-making regarding property division, support, and access to children, with consideration of interstate and international child custody disputes. In addition, this benchbook addresses firearms restrictions that arise from criminal and personal protection proceedings.

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