June 21, 2013
It may be difficult to believe, but only 19 states restrict the rights of rapists to custody of the children fathered through the rape.
Rapists have been known to blackmail their victims with threats to seek joint custody, so that the victim will remain silent and not pursue criminal charges.
That is how deep the family court joint custody presumption runs. Despite evidence indicating a violent assault and/or criminal charges or convictions, family court judges still seek to protect the rights of both parents to be involved in their children’s lives.
Consider this terrible story of a teen raped at age 14 and now involved in a custody battle with her rapist.