Court Support Services Division
Frequently Asked Questions
CSSD Quick Links
Family Services is dedicated to assisting courts and
clients in resolving family and interpersonal conflicts in a timely way.
In the Family Civil Court:
Family Services addresses
concerns such as child custody, child access, financial matters, property
disputes, and Temporary Restraining Orders. This is done through Alternative
Dispute Resolution services, such as Pre-trial Settlement Negotiation,
Conciliation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution Conferences, where disputes
can often be addressed in a way that promotes individual responsibility and
self-determination. There are situations when parents cannot reach agreement
regarding their parenting dispute. In these cases, Family Services conducts
issue-Focused Evaluations and Comprehensive Evaluations. Parenting plans
that are focused on the best interests of the children are then recommended
to the parents and the court. Family Services also coordinates outside
services such as Supervised Visitation, Transition in Parenting, and the
Parent Education Program.
In the Family Criminal Court:
Family Services does intake assessments of individuals arrested for family violence crimes and
supervises those individuals before trial.
The goal is to enhance victim safety; hold offenders
accountable; and, prevent, reduce, and stop the frequency and severity of
violence against victims. At arraignment, Family Services assesses the
defendant’s likelihood of future violence and makes recommendations to the
court, including the appropriate level of protective orders. Family Services
conducts comprehensive assessments and prepares written reports that
identify and summarize each client’s needs. Pre-trial supervision is
provided to monitor whether individuals comply with conditions ordered by
the court.
CSSD Family Services also has contracts with several
organizations that offer programs to defendants that address domestic
violence. These include the Family Violence Education Program, Explore, and
Evolve.