SB-331 – Judicial Education Curriculum
From SB-331: “SEC. 6. Section 3040.5 is added to the Family Code, to read: 3040.5. (a) A judge assigned to family law matters involving
child custody proceedings shall report to the Judicial Council the
number of hours in a program of continuing instruction in domestic
violence, including, but not limited to, coercive control and child
sexual abuse.”
The curriculum for judicial education is crucial. It must be balanced to the concerns of both parties. The following judicial curriculum is recommended:
- Narcissistic, borderline, and dark personality pathology.
- Family systems constructs.
- Child abuse. The differential diagnosis of child abuse – identifying authentic child abuse versus false displays created by an allied pathological parent.
- Intimate Partner Violence. The differential diagnosis of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) – identifying authentic IPV concerns surrounding the child versus false allegations made by a narcissistic-borderline-dark personality parent to manipulate the court’s decisions regarding child custody.
o Note research by Ok et al. (2021) regarding the manipulative “virtuous victim” presentation by the Dark Triad personality.
o Note research by Clemente et al. (2020) regarding the Dark Triad personality and judicial manipulation.
Craig Childress, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, CA PSY 18857
