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Integrated Domestic Abuse Courts (IDACs) and similar court models: literature review

Summary of evidence on Integrated Domestic Abuse Courts (IDACs) and similar models in the UK and internationally.


References

Birnbaum, R. and Bala, N. (2025). Toronto’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court: An Innovative Process to Get Family Violence Cases Out of Silos in Understanding Family Violence in Family Court Proceedings. Toronto’s Integrated Domestic Violence Court: An Innovative Process to Get Family Violence Cases Out of Silos | Understanding Family Violence in Family Court Proceedings. Pp 133-158.

Blonder, E. (2023). The ‘One Family, One Judge’ Court Model: Instituting Integrated Domestic Violence Courts in the United States - New York State Bar Association.

Cairns, I., & Callander, I. (2022). ‘Gold Standard’ Legislation for Adults Only: Reconceptualising Children as ‘Adjoined Victims’ Under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018. Social & Legal Studies, 31(6), 914-940. https://doi.org/10.1177/09646639221089252.

Centre for Justice Innovation. (2017). Problem-solving in Scotland: New developments.

Centre for Justice Innovation. (2020). Integrated Domestic Abuse Court: Evidence and practice briefing | Centre for Justice Innovation.

Children Act 1989. Children Act 1989.

Children (Scotland) Act 2020. Children (Scotland) Act 2020.

Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Choudhry, S. & Rodriguez Gutierrez, D. (2024). The Family Justice Response to Domestic Abuse - The Report.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner. (2025). Everyday business: Addressing domestic abuse in the family court - GOV.UK.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner. (2023). The Family Court and domestic abuse: achieving cultural change - GOV.UK.

Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021. Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021.

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018. Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006. Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

Field, RM, Jeffries, S, Rathus, Z & Lynch, A (2016), 'Family reports and family violence in Australian family law proceedings: What do we know?', Journal of Judicial Administration, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 212-236. Family reports and family violence in Australian family law proceedings: What do we know? - Bond University Research Portal.

Hester, M., Pearce, J. and Westmarland, N. (2008). Early evaluation of the Integrated Domestic Violence Court, Croydon. Ministry of Justice.

HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland. (2024). The prosecution of domestic abuse cases at sheriff summary level.

Jaffe, P.G., Crooks, C.V. and Poisson, S.E. (2003), Common Misconceptions in Addressing Domestic Violence in Child Custody Disputes. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 54: 57-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6988.2003.tb00086.x

Mackay, K, (2013). The treatment of the views of children in private law contact disputes where there is a history of domestic abuse. A report to Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Mackay, K, (2013b). The treatment of the views of children in private la

McPherson, R. (2024) “Reforming the Landscape for Women who Kill their Abusers in Scotland”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 13(4), pp. 96-111. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.3514.

Ministry of Justice. (2026). Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: Understanding the Experience of Children and Families

Ministry of Justice. (2025). Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: process evaluation and financial analysis - GOV.UK.

Ministry of Justice. (2023). Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases - Annex: Integrated Domestic Abuse Courts.

Queensland and Department of Justice and Attorney-General. (2021). Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court - Process and Outcomes Evaluation 2017-21.

Ramirez, S. (2021) "Integrated Domestic Violence Courts: One Solution to Mexico’s Fem-icide Epidemic," California Western International Law Journal: Vol. 51: No. 2, Article 18. Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwilj/vol51/iss2/18

SafeLives. (2024). Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC): Overview.

Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. (2023). Domestic Abuse and Child Contact: The Interface Between Criminal and Civil Proceedings - SCCJR.

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. (2024). The Summary Case Management Pilot: Final Evaluation.

Scottish Executive. (2007). Evaluation of the Domestic Abuse Pilot.

Scottish Government. (2018). Review of the Aberdeen Problem Solving Approach: research findings - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2019a) Domestic abuse courts: report - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2019b). Family Justice Modernisation Strategy - gov.scot

Scottish Government. (2021). Domestic abuse: statistics recorded by the Police in Scotland - 2020/21 - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2023a). Domestic abuse court experiences - perspectives of victims and witnesses: research findings - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2023b). Supporting documents - Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: interim reporting requirement - gov.scot.

Scottish Government .(2023c). Equally Safe 2023 - preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls: strategy - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2024a). Incidents of domestic abuse - Domestic abuse: statistics recorded by the police in Scotland, 2023 to 2024 - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2024b). Minoritised Ethnic Women's Experiences of Domestic Abuse and Barriers to Help-Seeking: A Summary of the Evidence - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2025a). ACEs research - Psychological trauma and adversity including ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2025b). Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: factsheet - gov.scot.

Scottish Government. (2026). Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 – Reporting Requirement - gov.scot

Scottish Human Rights Commission. (2023). Istanbul Convention Treaty Monitoring Report 2023.

Scottish Law Commission.(2024). Discussion Paper on Civil Remedies for Domestic Abuse (DP No. 178)

Scottish Parliament. (2025). Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website.

Scottish Sentencing Council. (2022). The sentencing of offences involving domestic abuse in Scotland.

Scottish Women’s Aid. (2024). Still Not Safe - Critical Issue Briefing - Harmful child contact orders in domestic abuse cases that re-traumatise and endanger women and children in Scotland

Scottish Women’s Rights Centre. (2023). Guest Blog by Researchers for "Domestic Abuse and Child Contact: The Interface Between Criminal and Civil Proceedings" | News/Blog | Scottish Women’s Rights Centre.

Sharma, S. (2021). Family: Domestic abuse and child orders: the full view? | Law Society of Scotland.

Source Direct. (2018). How are Scotland’s domestic abuse courts working? – Source

UK Trauma Council. (2025). Childhood Trauma and Domestic Abuse Research Round Up - UK Trauma Council.

Vermont Centre for Justice Research. (2013). Bennington County Integrated Domestic Violence Docket Project: Process Evaluation Final Report | Office of Justice Programs.

Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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