Policy briefing: Considerations for the national roll out of ‘Child Focused Courts’

This briefing paper is informed by our collective findings from: the Ministry of Justice funded Strand 1 (process evaluation and financial analysis) and Strand 2 (experiences of children and families) evaluation of the Pathfinder Courts, The Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Office ‘Everyday Business’ Family Court Review and Reporting Mechanism Report and the Ministry of Justice Harm Panel Report. From this body of work, we make the below recommendations for the national roll out of the ‘Child Focused Courts’ (formerly known as Pathfinder Courts), with a particular emphasis on the inclusion of children’s voices and supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse.