In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will host "Reunification vs. Safety: A Town Hall Meeting on Child Custody Determinations in Cases Involving Domestic Violence," Friday, Oct. 12, 5-7 p.m., at the NCJFCJ headquarters, in the Continuing Education Building, 1041 N. Virginia St., on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Panelists' presentations will be followed by discussion and a reception. The event is free and open to the community.

The public is invited to participate in the discussion focusing on how the court balances the competing interests of access versus safety of the child in family court cases involving domestic violence. In addition to discussing the difficult nature of these issues, Judge Michael Denton from Austin, Tex., will address the various uses of domestic violence in interpersonal relationships and how these can affect the judge's analysis of the access vs. safety issue. Denton will also address the statutory presumption that a person guilty of domestic violence should not have joint custody; and judicial awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children.

Other panel members will include a prominent Reno family attorney, a representative from the Reno's Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW) and a local news reporter.

The event is sponsored by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), the Second Judicial District Family Court, and the Committee to Aid Abused Women (CAAW).

For more information, contact the NCJFCJ, (775) 784-6012 or email staff@ncjfcj.org. Visit the NCJFCJ website at http://www.ncjfcj.org

Celebrating 70 years in 2007—Since its founding in 1937 by a group of judges dedicated to improving the effectiveness of the nation's juvenile courts, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has pursued a mission to improve courts and systems practice and raise awareness of the core issues that touch the lives of many of our nation's children and families.

The NCJFCJ, headquartered on the University of Nevada campus in Reno since 1969, provides cutting-edge training, wide-ranging technical assistance, and research to help the nation's courts, judges and staff in their important work. During the past year, the NCJFCJ conducted or assisted in conducting more than 200 educational programs for more than 19,000 judges, court administrators, social and mental health workers, police, probation officers, and others working in the juvenile and family courts at its headquarters in Reno and throughout the country. In conjunction with the University of Nevada, Reno and the National Judicial College, the National Council participates in unique advanced degree programs for judges and other court professionals.