Barry Goldstein
National Research Director
Barry Goldstein is a nationally recognized domestic violence author, speaker and advocate. He has worked in the DV movement since 1983. Barry served on the board of a DV shelter in Westchester County for 14 years including 4 as chairperson. He has been an instructor and later also supervisor in a NY Model Batterer Program since 1999. Barry Goldstein practiced as an attorney for 30 years ; most of his practice involved representing protective mothers.
Barry has written some of the leading books about domestic violence and custody. He co edited two volumes of Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody with Dr. Mo Therese Hannah. He co-authored Representing the Domestic Violence Survivor with Elizabeth Liu. Barry is also the author of Scared to Leave Afraid to Stay and The Quincy Solution: Stop Domestic Violence and Save $500 Billion.
Barry is a sought after speaker whose expertise has been welcomed by many organizations including the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Battered Women’s Custody Conference, National Domestic Violence Hotline, American Psychological Association, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, OVW in the US Justice Department, Canadian Institute of Health, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He serves as co-chair of the Child Custody Task Force for the National Organization for Men Against Sexism.
Blog posts about the Custody Court Crisis…
Survivor Story: Hammered Down
TRIGGER WARNING: Brave DV survivor tells her story. It starts with a father who hit her mother with a sledgehammer, but it doesn’t end there.
Kayden’s Law Provision of VAWA Fuels Family Court Reform
Thanks to countless advocates, family court reform is being reinforced! What does Kayden’s Law Provision of VAWA mean for protective parents?
Equal Parenting Custody Battles: What Can We Learn from the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Case?
When Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, she initiated a custody battle that underscores the ramifications of equal parenting.
Was your child harmed by a custody decision?
Was your child harmed by a custody decision? NY Governor is holding two hearings this month on Forensic Evaluators. Tell your story.
Why Family Courts Usually Fail Abuse Victims
A victory shows why family courts usually fail abuse victims. The ACE research helps courts understand the harm from DV and child abuse.
Child Abuse and Custody in Family Court
The child abuse and custody professionals responsible for protecting children from child abuse and determining custody are failing.
The LEAST WORST INTERESTS of the CHILD
Family courts are supposed to protect the best interests of the child but too often they promote the worst interests of the child.
Family Court Judge Protects Child
A family court judge stepped in to protect a child saying only fools would be convinced by false evidence of alienation.
How to find a good Domestic Violence attorney
From an author of one of the leading books on representing the domestic violence survivor. How to find a good Domestic Violence attorney.
High Conflict divorce approaches are sexist and gender-biased
The high-conflict divorce approach is designed to help parents have a successful co-parenting relationship. The reality is very different.
Help Us Pass Kyra’s Law
Kyra Franchetti did not need to die. Help us pass Kyra’s Law and make a child’s health and safety the top priority in child custody cases.
Should domestic violence affect a father’s visitation?
Should Domestic Violence affect a father’s visitation rights? It should if Family Courts want to protect children from abuse and neglect.
Why Kyra’s Law is the best gift for children
Kyra’s Law will make a child’s health and safety the top priority in custody cases, rather than the standard “best interest” of the child.
Kyras Law Will Make New York Family Court Safe for New York Children
Kyra’s Law introduced in the NYS Assembly moves our writer to tears because it will make the New York Family Courts safe for kids.
Kaydens Law to fix broken Family Court moves forward
Kaydens Law will fix family courts in Pennsylvania by requiring that the health and safety of children must be the first priority.
Why did Hank Aaron die now?
Hank Aaron died of natural causes when he was 86-years-old. A long life, longer than average life expectancy, but could he have lived longer?
Don’t confuse Domestic Violence with “He-said-she-said”
Judges, lawyers, and evaluators often minimize domestic violence (DV) by referring to the dispute as “he-said-she-said.” They’re wrong.
Family Court uses the ACE Study to protect a child
Family Court Judge trained in ACE Study Research makes contested custody decision saving a child from an abusive father.
Who are the Domestic Violence Experts?
The 2012 Saunders Study found that Domestic Violence Experts would benefit the family courts. Little has changed since.
Believe Victims if We Want to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Ft. Hood is the latest scandal where victims of sexual mistreatment and DV were retraumatized by people supposed to protect them.
The Science Behind Coercive Control and Adverse Outcomes During Pregnancy
In a two-part series with the ACECC Journal, we will discuss prenatal non-physical abuse and the long-term effects on children.
Early warning signs of Domestic Violence
Are there early warning signs of domestic violence? What early signs tell the difference between charisma and real character?
How the Family Court’s purpose to protect children became inverted
How three decades of history are driving family courts throughout the West to make consistently irrational and dangerous decisions.
Domestic Violence is a gendered offense
Domestic Violence is a gendered crime and we treat it as such. Some people, mostly men, disagree with our approach. Here is our response.
Who are the Protective Mothers?
Protective mothers are simply normal and caring mothers who love their children and will do whatever is necessary to protect them.
Crisis in the Family Courts
58,000 children a year are sent for custody or unprotected visitation with dangerous abusers. In 10 years, over 750 were murdered.
Life and death in the Family Courts
Family Courts favor abusers and harm children. Custody courts are mishandling 95% of abuse cases causing suffering and death.
Changing our lives
Mickey Mantle told his fans, “Don’t be like me.”, hoping to change their lives away from the mistakes that were about to cost him his.
Why don’t family courts fix dangerous practices?
The research makes it clear that Family Courts get most domestic violence custody cases wrong and often dangerously wrong. This article explains what may cause courts to tilt in favor of abusive fathers and away from protecting children. We know judges don’t want to hurt children, so why haven’t courts found a way to review their outdated practices and create reforms that focus on keeping children safe and healthy?
How to select a judicial candidate
How do you select a judicial candidate to vote for? Make sure the family court judge you vote for is qualified. Read this article before voting.