Family Court Controversy: In-Depth Analysis of CJE's 'Child Safety First' Congressional Report
Calls for Reform Amid Claims of Misrepresented Data and Parental Alienation Neglect
By Richard Luthmann
This article is a follow-up on an article published on Frank Report in October, the week the Center for Judicial Excellence (CJE), a California-based nonprofit known for advocating for child abuse and domestic violence survivors, met with Congressional leaders in Washington:
Parental Alienation Omission: CJE Faces Criticism of Its ‘Child Safety First’ Report
Two Sides of a Critical Issue
The Center for Judicial Excellence (CJE) is facing scrutiny for its "Child Safety First" report, which has been criticized by groups advocating for shared parenting in custody disputes.
CJE presented the full report, entitled “Child Safety First: Preventing Child Homicides During Divorce, Separation, and Child Custody Disputes — Recommendations for Reforming U.S. Family Courts,” to Congress earlier this year. Lawmakers sought expert recommendations on how to use federal legislation and programs to help avoid violence against children, women, and men engaged in family court battles.
Some groups argue the CJE Report should be discounted, if not dismissed entirely. Notably, the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) and Global Action for Research Integrity in Parental Alienation (GARI-PA) claim that the CJE report inaccurately presents findings on Parental Alienation, a recognized mental condition in contentious divorces where a child is manipulated to reject one parent without legitimate justification. Parental Alienation is a form of “coercive control, and they say the CJE ignored it in their report.
PASG and GARI-PA issued an 80-page report titled “Exposing Misinformation and Public Policy Deception Contained in Child Safety First,” challenging CJE's methodologies and claims. The report suggests that the report contains over 50 questionable references.
This response comes amidst growing concerns over the spread of scientific misinformation, likened to historic misconceptions such as the denial of cigarettes causing cancer.
According to expert sources consulted by the Frank Report, the controversy is further fueled by financial implications related to "Kayden’s Law" from the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) and concerns over the misuse of "coercive control" in custody disputes.
Critics argue that the family court system benefits financially at the expense of families, and there are calls for greater scrutiny and accountability in how Parental Alienation is addressed in the courts.
CJE's 'Child Safety First': A Controversial Report
The CJE states in "Child Safety First" that its mission is "to protect child abuse and domestic violence survivors in the U.S. family court system and to foster accountability throughout the judicial branch."
However, the white paper by PASG and GARI-PA accuses the CJE of ignoring victims of parental alienation, a significant oversight in their analysis.
The report, which claims that 106 preventable child murders occurred due to systemic failures in the family court system, has been declared a "national crisis" by the CJE.
PASG and GARI-PA's Stance: Uncovering Misinformation
The white paper criticizes the CJE's methodology, citing "over fifty citations that were misrepresented, misquoted, or blatantly fraudulent."
It also points out significant flaws in the CJE's research methodology. It accuses the CJE of engaging in "widespread deception in its research, biased selection of citations, misinformation, science denial tactics, and other unethical practices."
The paper emphasizes the danger of the CJE's approach, stating, "The mistakes and negligent research practices that are apparent in Child Safety First are so basic that any competent researcher would be aware of them and avoid them."
Parental Alienation: A Neglected Aspect
Parental Alienation, described as a mental condition where a child allies strongly with one parent and rejects a relationship with the other without legitimate justification, is highlighted as a crucial issue neglected in the CJE report.
The white paper argues that parental alienation is a form of coercive control and a significant public health issue, accusing the CJE of omitting relevant scientific research on the subject.
CJE's Recommendations: A Cause for Concern
The white paper further asserts that the CJE's recommendations do not address the problems they claim to solve but create more issues and injustices.
Critics accuse the CJE of being deceptive in its representations to Congress and state legislatures and attempting to control various aspects of the judiciary branch.
The critical white paper has received endorsements from the leadership of 84 organizations, representing a broad spectrum of scientists, professionals, and stakeholders.
The white paper’s contributors are all experts in the field of Parental Alienation. They include:
Principal Authors:
Rabbi Yaakov Aichenbaum, M.A.
Special Education Professional
Member of the Parental Alienation Study Group
Active in addressing misinformation about parental alienation
William Bernet, M.D.
Professor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
President of the Parental Alienation Study Group
Email: william.bernet@vumc.org
Additional Contributors:
Jennifer J. Harman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social and Health Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Research focuses on power in intimate relationships and aspects of Parental Alienation theory.
Lena Hellblom Sjögren, Ph.D.
Investigative Forensic Psychologist in Sweden
Over 25 years of research on Parental Alienation
Author of a book on Parental Alienation as a child’s human rights violation
Stan Korosi, Ph.D., M.Couns.
Clinical Sociologist and Counsellor
Adjunct Fellow at the School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
Director and principal consultant specializing in Parental Alienation assessment and remediation
Email: skorosi@usc.edu.au
Rael LaPenta
Consultant with Behavioral & Sensory Solutions
Director of Mothers Against Child Abuse (MACA)
Email: RespectfulllyPAC@gmail.com
Alejandro Mendoza-Amaro, M.D., Ph.D.
Mexican Researcher and Founder of Global Action for Research Integrity in Parental Alienation
Held notable positions in the Michoacán Ministry of Health
Email: a.mendoza@garipa.org
Claudia Ovales
Veteran Advocate with the National Parents Organization
Chairperson of Heroes for Children’s Rights
Email: heroesforchildrensrights@gmailcom
Supporting Organizations:
Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG)
Nonprofit corporation founded in 2010
Educates mental health and legal professionals and the public about parental alienation
Website: www.pasg.info
Global Action for Research Integrity in Parental Alienation (GARI-PA)
International nonprofit organization
Focuses on investigating and correcting scientific fraud related to parental alienation
Website: www.garipa.org
A Call for Critical Review and Inclusive Policymaking
The white paper concludes by urging readers to critically evaluate the CJE's "Child Safety First" report with extreme skepticism. It emphasizes the need for inclusive policy discussions involving parental alienation experts, shared parenting experts, and domestic violence organizations without gender biases.
The paper calls for congressional and other inquiries into the activities and funding sources of organizations misrepresenting Parental Alienation science and advocates for public policy based on the input of all stakeholders and legitimate scientific research.
Representatives from PASG and GARI-PA express their willingness to meet the challenge. They are prepared to confer with elected officials, the media, and other stakeholders to discuss their analysis and answer questions about parental alienation, underlining the need for a balanced approach to child protection in family courts.
Richard Luthmann is a writer, editor, and investigative journalist. For tips or help, call 239-631-5957 or email richard.luthmann@protonmail.com.
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