Research Programs

Research at Accountability For Our Children

Three research programs in development examining family court procedure, access to justice, and transparency frameworks in California. Program outputs will be published as methodology and data work are completed.

Overview

Three Programs in Development

AFOC's research programs are in initial scoping and planning. Each program examines procedural, statutory, or transparency dimensions of California family court systems. Methodology is documented in our methodology charter.

Program I

In Development

Family Court Procedure Research

In initial scoping: examination of the procedural rules and statutory frameworks governing family court proceedings in California. The program will document how cases are initiated, managed, and resolved — with attention to procedural consistency and due process protections.

Research Questions

How does California Family Code procedure compare with procedural due process requirements?
Where do local court rules diverge from statewide standards, and what are the consequences?
How are temporary orders governed procedurally, and what constitutional constraints apply?
Statutory AnalysisDue ProcessProcedural Mapping

Program II

In Early Planning

Access to Justice Research

In early planning: study of barriers families face when navigating family court without legal representation. The program will map procedural complexity for self-represented litigants and evaluate court-provided resources against comparable jurisdictions.

Research Questions

What procedural knowledge do self-represented litigants need to effectively participate in family court?
How adequate are California courts' self-help resources relative to other jurisdictions?
What is the documented impact of legal representation on family court outcomes?
Self-Represented LitigantsLegal Aid PolicyComparative Analysis

Program III

Forthcoming

Transparency & Accountability Studies

Forthcoming: examination of transparency and public accountability in family court processes. Planned focus areas include judicial performance review, access to court records, appellate standards, and public reporting.

Research Questions

What mechanisms exist for public oversight of family court judicial performance in California?
How are court-appointed experts and minor's counsel selected, compensated, and reviewed?
How do California's court record access rules compare with those in other states?
Judicial AccountabilityCourt Records AccessPolicy Research

Methodology

How We Conduct Our Research

Our methodology follows legal research and policy analysis traditions. All research begins with primary source analysis and is validated against published scholarship.

Primary Source Analysis

We read statutes, rules, and court decisions directly. We do not rely on secondary characterizations without independent verification.

Procedural Documentation

We map procedural pathways using official court materials, judicial council publications, and local court rules.

Comparative Research

We compare California frameworks with those of other jurisdictions, identifying structural differences and their policy implications.

Literature Review

We survey legal academic literature, judicial publications, bar reports, and peer-reviewed social science research.

Primary Sources We Analyze

Our Research Base

California State Sources

  • California Family Code (all relevant divisions)
  • California Rules of Court (Title 5 — Family and Juvenile Rules)
  • California Evidence Code
  • Local court rules (Los Angeles, Alameda, San Diego, and others)
  • California Judicial Council publications and reports

Federal & Comparative Sources

  • Federal constitutional standards (due process, equal protection)
  • Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
  • Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act and comparable model acts
  • Family court procedural rules from New York, Texas, Florida, Washington, and others
  • National Center for State Courts publications

For Researchers & Practitioners

Citing Our Work

Publications in development will be designed for citation in academic, legal, and policy contexts. Reports will include author information, publication date, version number, and organization name. Use the following general format when citing future releases:

Accountability For Our Children. [Report Title]. Accountability For Our Children Research Program [I/II/III]. giveafoc.org. [Year].

For Bluebook legal citation format, treat our publications as institutional reports. For academic use, Chicago 17th edition or APA 7th edition formats are acceptable.

Questions about citing or reproducing our research may be directed to contact@giveafoc.org.

Stay Informed

Research Briefings & Event Announcements

Subscribe to receive our educational publications, research briefings, and upcoming event announcements — not advocacy newsletters.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time. We do not sell or share subscriber information.