Do judges get it right? Mixed-methods evidence on outcomes of protective orders

• In Event: Governing Gender-Based Violence: Legal Responses, Policy Innovations, and Unintended Consequences

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue. One legal response to address IPV is to issue protective orders. This study examines the judicial response to IPV by analyzing what happens after a protective order is filed. Using a mixed-methods approach, I draw on administrative court data and in-depth interviews with judges who regularly oversee protective order cases. This triangulation of data allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how decisions are made and what factors influence judicial discretion. By examining this underexplored stage of the IPV response system, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of both legal processes, systemic barriers, and survivor outcomes.

Author

• Marylis C Fantoni, Brigham Young University
  Presenting Author