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Research Regarding Visitation Interference.

B) THE FREQUENCY OF ACCESS/VISITATION INTERFERENCE
The research documents show that access/visitation interference
occurs in an alarmingly high number of cases and that the family
courts have not been able to enforce compliance by civil measures.
The research excerpted in Section D showing the importance of
access/visitation lends support to the necessity of reasonable
deterrent measures and judicial training.

"37.9% of fathers receive no access/visitation" (pg. 6, col. 2, 6,
lines 4 & 5) Child Support & Alimony: 1989 Series P-60, No.173,
Issued September 1991 Pages 6 & 7 of the 1989 Census - Current
Population Reports

"Between 25% - 33% of mothers denied visits" (pg. 451, col. 2, 2,
lines 11 - 14) Frequency of Visitation by Divorced Fathers:
Differences in Reports by Fathers and Mothers - Sanford H. Braver,
Ph.D., Sharlene A. Wolchik, Ph.D., Irwin M. Sandler, Ph.D., Bruce S.
Fogas, Ph.D., Daria Zvetina, M.Ed. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

"40% of mothers reported that they had interfered with the non-
custodial father's visitation on at least one occasion, to punish
their ex-spouse" (pg. 449, Col. 2, 1, lines 3 - 6 citing Fullton,
1979) Frequency of Visitation by Divorced Fathers: Differences in
Reports by Fathers and Mothers - Sanford H. Braver, Ph.D., Sharlene
A. Wolchik, Ph.D., Irwin M. Sandler, Ph.D., Bruce S. Fogas, Ph.D.,
Daria Zvetina, M.Ed., American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

Overall, approximately 50% of mothers "see no value in the father's
continued contact with his children" (pg. 125, 4, lines 1 and 2)
Surviving the Breakup - Joan Berlin Kelly and Judith S. Wallerstein

"Unilateral abuse of parental custodial power is more common in court
ordered sole custody situations." (pg. 4, col. 1, 1, lines 17 - 20)
Child Custody and Parental Cooperation - Frank Williams, M.D., Dir.
Psychiatry - Cedar-Sinai - Presented to theAmerican Bar Association,
Family Law Section, August 1987 and January 1988

"Feelings of anger toward their former spouses hindered effective
involvement on the part of the fathers; angry custodial mothers would
sometimes sabotage father's efforts to visit their children" (pg.
442, Col. 1, 1, lines 23 - 27) The Effect of the Post Divorce
Relationship on Paternal Involvement: A Longitudinal Analysis -
Constance R. Ahrons, Ph.D., and Richard B. Miller, Ph.D., American
Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 3, July 1993

"Mothers may prevent visits to retaliate against the fathers for
problems in their marital or post marital relationship" (pg. 1015,
Col. 2, 2, lines 5 - 8) Family Ties after Divorce: The Relationship
Between Visiting and Paying Support - Judith A. Seltzer, Nora
Shaeffer, Hong-wen Charing, University of Wisconsin, Journal of
Marriage & the Family, Vol. 51, No. 4, November 1989.

"Our research indicates that most fathers and children who are
separated from each other face barriers to continued interaction"
(pg. 675, Col. 1, 1, Lines 2 - 5) Children's Contact with Absent
Parents - Judith A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin - Madison and
Suzanne M. Bianchi, U.S. Bureau of the Census

"The former spouse [mother] was the greatest obstacle to having more
frequent contact with the children" (pg. 281, Col. 2, 1, lines 1 - 4)
Increasing Our Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact
With Their Children - James R. Dudley, Professor, University North
Carolina, under a grant from Temple University, Family Relations,
Vol. 4, No. 3, July 1991

"Unfortunately, some angry women attempted to use the child's
symptomatic behaviors as proof that the visits were detrimental to
the child's welfare and should therefore be discontinued, distressing
the unhappy children even more" (pg. 126, 2, lines 1 - 5) Surviving
the Breakup, Joan Berlin Kelly and Judith S. Wallerstein, Basic Books

"The court's failure to enforce or expand visitation agreements were
a frequently mentioned complaint" (pg. 281, col. 2, 2, lines 14 - 16)
Increasing Our Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact
With Their Children - James R. Dudley, Professor, University North
Carolina, under a grant from Temple University, Family Relations,
Vol. 4, No. 3, July 1991

"90% of the violence and kidnapping we have seen are in sole custody
situations in which the sole custodial parent fears losing his or her
custody status, or the parentectomized parent kidnaps the child away
from the sole custody parent who possessively blocks the visiting
parent from access." (pg. 4, Col. 1, 1, lines 3-9) Child Custody and
Parental Cooperation - Frank Williams, M.D., Dir. Psychiatry - Cedar-
Sinai - Presented at American Bar Association, Family Law Section,
August 1987 and January 1988. - Kidnapping and Violence in Relation
to Custody - Reprinted in Joint Custodian, Jan. 1988

"Since parental judgment and leadership are weak following divorce,
the court must step in and convey the message that parents of divorce
are expected to cooperate" (pg. 3, col. 1, 5, lines 1 - 4) Child
Custody and Parental Cooperation - Frank Williams, M.D., Dir.
Psychiatry - Cedar-Sinai - Presented at American Bar Association,
Family Law Section, August 1987 and January 1988

C) THE DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ACCESS/VISITATION INTERFERENCE
The research finds that children suffer detrimental consequences from
living in a single parent household, without contact by the other
parent. The harm to the children is compounded by the introduction of
a step parent or live in paramour. Section D however, shows that the
negative aspects excerpted in Section C, are alleviated by
access/visitation by the non-custodial parent.

"Few men can afford to legally contest every infringement of the
visitation agreement." (pg. 60, 3, lines 11 - 12) Visitation and the
Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P. Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of
Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"It is paradoxical that at a time when popular sentiment encourages
men to become more involved with childbirth and childrearing when
they live with their children, fathers face ambiguous messages from
their families and mass media about their responsibilities to
children with whom they do not live." (pg. 81, Col. 1, 2, Lines 22 -
28) Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live Apart: The
Father's Role after Separation - Judith A. Seltzer, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 53, No.
1, February 1991

"The family turmoil that surrounding parental divorce affects the
children's social, emotional, and intellectual adjustment, leading to
a disruption in their functioning." (pg. 139, 2, lines 1 - 3)
Interparental Conflict, Relationship with the Noncustodial Father,
and Adolescent Post-Divorced Adjustment - Gene Brody and Rex
Forehand, University of Georgia, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol.
11, No. 2, April - June 1990

"Fathers often experience intense conflicts with their former
spouses, and these conflicts typically interfere with their on- going
parent-child relationships." (pg. 279, col. 2, 2, lines 15 - 19)
Increasing Our Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact
With Their Children - James R. Dudley, Professor, University North
Carolina, under a grant from Temple University, Family Relations,
Vol. 4, No. 3, July 1991

"Fathers felt their bargaining power to be weaker than the mother's
and mentioned the repeated need for compromise and negotiation to
maintain regular involvement with the children." (pg. 60, 3, lines
13 - 15) Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P. Koch,
Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"Most men were dissatisfied with the frequency of visitation" (pg.
54, 4 lines 5) Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P.
Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"70% of fathers felt they had too little time with their children."
(pg 54, 4, lines 5 - 7) Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary
Ann P. Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2,
Winter 1984

"Very few of the children were satisfied with the amount of contact
with their fathers, after divorce." (pg. 50, 2, lines 1 - 3)
Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P. Koch, Carol R.
Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"A child living with his/her divorced mother, compared to a child
living with both parents is 375% more likely to need professional
treatment for emotional or behavioral problems and is almost twice as
likely to repeat a grade of school, is more likely to suffer chronic
asthma, frequent headaches, and/or bedwetting, develop a stammer or
speech defect, suffer from anxiety or depression, and be diagnosed as
hyperactive." National Center for Health Statistics

"Children who live in single mother households receive less adult
supervision and attention." ( pg. 79, Col. 1, 1, Lines 13 - 15)
Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live Apart: The
Father's Role after Separation - Judith A. Seltzer, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 53, No.
1, February 1991

"55.3% of children living with divorced mothers and 59.2% of children
living with remarried mothers, suffer from anxiety or
depression."National Center for Health Statistics

"in 21 of 27 social adjustment measures and 8 of 9 academic measures,
children of divorce show lower performance than children in two
parent families. The results were far more pronounced for boys, than
for girls." Nationwide Impact on Children of Divorce Study, John
Guidubaldi, Ph.D., former President, School Psychologists Association

"Daughters in single mother homes have more negative attitudes toward
men in general and their fathers in particular." (pg. 146 , 2, lines
5 - 8) Interparental Conflict, Relationship with the Noncustodial
Father, and Adolescent Post-Divorced Adjustment - Gene Brody and Rex
Forehand, University of Georgia, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol.
11, No. 2, April - June 1990

"Non custodial parents, who are usually men, are likely to be
negatively affected in psychological ways. A most pervasive problem
is suffering caused by the feeling that they have lost their
children." (pg. 279, col. 2, 2, lines 1 - 5) Increasing Our
Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact With Their
Children - James R. Dudley, Professor, University North Carolina,
under a grant from Temple University, Family Relations, Vol. 4, No.
3, July 1991

"Divorced fathers reported significantly more depressive symptoms
than did married fathers." (pg. 130 Col. 2, 2, lines 6 - 10) The Role
of Paternal Variables in Divorced and Married Families - Amanda
Thomas and Rex Forehand, American Journal of Othopsychiatry, Vol. 63,
No. 1, January 1993

"Fathers reports of poorer relationships with the adolescents were
significantly associated with teacher reports of more conduct
problems." (pg. 130, col. 2, 3, lines 12 - 15) Interparental
Conflict, Relationship with the Noncustodial Father, and Adolescent
Post-Divorced Adjustment - Gene Brody and Rex Forehand, University of
Georgia, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 11, No. 2, April - June
1990

"Fathers low level of social involvement are mirrored by their weak
economic ties." (pg. 79, Col. 1, 3, Lines 1 - 2) Relationships
between Fathers and Children Who Live Apart: The Father's Role after
Separation - Judith A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison,
Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Only 44.5% of fathers with no visitation pay the child support due."
(pg. 7, col. 1, 2, lines 3 - 4) U.S. Bureau of the Census: 1988

D) THE BENEFITS OF ACCESS/VISITATION
AND ITS ENFORCEMENT
The research documents indicate that most of the negative
consequences of separation and divorce can be alleviated by
maintaining and enforcing an ongoing and continuous relationship with
both biological parents following separation and/or divorce.

The benefits have been arranged into three categories:

1
Access/visitation helps children adjust to the effects of divorce.
2
Access/visitation alleviates the burden on the mother and promotes
the likelihood of increased financial and emotional support for the
children.
3
Access/visitation has a positive effect on children's development.
Category 1
Access/Visitation helps children adjust to the effects of divorce
"One clear message from the accumulated divorce research is that
children profit by continued exposure to both parents" (pg. 61, 1,
lines 1 - 3) Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P.
Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"Children who were able to maintain post-divorce relationships with
both parents were better able to adjust to the divorce." ( pg. 50, 3,
lines 5 - 7) Visitation and the Noncustodial Father - Mary Ann P.
Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2, Winter 1984

"The continuing involvement of divorced fathers in families where
mothers maintain physical custody has become recognized as an
important mediating factor in the adjustment and well-being of
children of divorce." (pg. 441, col. 2, 1, lines 4 - 9) The Effect of
the Post Divorce Relationship on Paternal Involvement: A Longitudinal
Analysis - Constance R. Ahrons, Ph.D., and Richard B. Miller, Ph.D.,
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 3, July 1993

"Children recover more rapidly from the emotional trauma of parents'
separation when they maintain close ties with their fathers." (pg.
1013, Col. 2, 2, lines 13 - 24 continued on pg. 1014, Col. 1, 1,
lines 1) Family Ties after Divorce: The Relationship Between Visiting
and Paying Support - Judith A. Seltzer, Nora Shaeffer, Hong-wen
Charing, University of Wisconsin, Journal of Marriage & the Family,
Vol. 51, No. 4, November 1989.

"Adolescents who reported closer relationships with their non
custodial fathers were assessed as displaying fewer internalizing
problems." (pg. 139, 1, lines 8 - 10) Interparental Conflict,
Relationship with the Noncustodial Father, and Adolescent Post-
Divorced Adjustment - Gene Brody and Rex Forehand, University of
Georgia, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 11, No. 2, April - June
1990

Category 2
Access/Visitation alleviates the burden on the mother and promotes
the likelihood of increased financial and emotional support for the
children
"Fathers economic and social involvement with children diminishes
some of the negative consequences of living with a single mother"
(pg. 1013, Col. 2, 2, lines 14 - 17) Family Ties after Divorce: The
Relationship Between Visiting and Paying Support - Judith A. Seltzer,
Nora Shaeffer, Hong-wen Charing, University of Wisconsin, Journal of
Marriage & the Family, Vol. 51, No. 4, November 1989.

"Paying child support, visiting and participating in childrearing
decisions are activities that "go together"...Fathers who engage in
any one of those three activities are likely to engage in the other
two activities perhaps to maintain parallel responsibilities with
those fulfilled by fathers who live with their children." (pg. 96,
Col. 2, 3, Lines 4 - 11) Relationships between Fathers and Children
Who Live Apart: The Father's Role after Separation - Judith A.
Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the
Family, Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Paternal visitation has been found to consistently be positively
related to payment of child support" (pg. 134, col. 1, 2, lines 16 -
18) The Role of Paternal Variables in Divorced and Married Families -
Amanda Thomas and Rex Forehand, American Journal of Othopsychiatry,
Vol. 63, No. 1, January 1993

"90.2% of fathers with joint custody pay the child support due." (pg.
7, col. 1, 2, lines 1 - 2) U.S. Bureau of the Census: 1988

"79.1 % of fathers with visitation privileges pay the child support
due." (pg. 7, col. 1, 2, lines 2 - 3) U.S. Bureau of the Census: 1988

"Fathers who have frequent contact with their children are also more
likely to discuss the children with the mother." (pg. 89, Col. 1, 2,
Lines 10 - 13) Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live
Apart: The Father's Role after Separation - Judith A. Seltzer,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the Family,
Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Fathers who visit their children are most likely to have a voice in
major child-rearing decisions." (pg. 90, Col. 1, 2, Lines 8 - 10)
Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live Apart: The
Father's Role after Separation - Judith A. Seltzer, University of
Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 53, No.
1, February 1991

"When both parents share the social and economic responsibilities of
child care, children appear to adapt better to their changed living
arrangements than when mothers bear these responsibilities alone."
(pg. 79, Col. 1, 1, Lines 18 - 24) Relationships between Fathers and
Children Who Live Apart: The Father's Role after Separation - Judith
A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and
the Family, Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Friendliness [between parents] increased with greater contact
frequency" Post-divorce Relationships between Ex-Spouses: The Roles
of Attachment and Interpersonal Conflict - Carol Masheter, University
of Utah, Journal of Marriage and the Family, Volume 53, (February
1991): 103 110

Category 3
Access/Visitation has a positive effect on children's development
"Fathers have much to offer their adolescent children in many areas,
including their career development, moral development, and sex role
identification." (pg. 284, col. 2, 5, lines 6 - 10) Increasing Our
Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact With Their
Children - James R. Dudley, Professor, University North Carolina,
under a grant from Temple University, Family Relations, Vol. 40, No.
3, July 1991

"Fathers who spend time with their children teach them values." (pg.
87, Col. 1, 2, Lines 23 - 26) Relationships between Fathers and
Children Who Live Apart: The Father's Role after Separation - Judith
A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and
the Family, Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Fathers and children who maintain close touch through visiting
communicate regularly in other ways as well." (pg. 85, Col. 2, 1,
Lines 23 - 25) Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live
Apart: The Father's Role after Separation - Judith A. Seltzer,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of Marriage and the Family,
Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991

"Frequent contact with the father is associated with positive
adjustment of the children." (pg. 441, col. 2, 1, lines 18 - 20) The
Effect of the Post Divorce Relationship on Paternal Involvement: A
Longitudinal Analysis - Constance R. Ahrons, Ph.D., and Richard B.
Miller, Ph.D., American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 3,
July 1993

"Fathers play a significant role in terms of adolescent functioning"
(pg. 134, col. 2, 2, lines 21 - 23) The Role of Paternal Variables in
Divorced and Married Families - Amanda Thomas and Rex Forehand,
American Journal of Othopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 1, January 1993

"Males who reported high levels of inter-parental conflict and a good
relationship with their fathers were perceived [by their teachers] to
have fewer internalizing problems. A similar set of results emerged
for the female adolescents" (pg. 144, 1, lines 1 - 3 and pg. 144, 2,
line 1) Interparental Conflict, Relationship with the Noncustodial
Father, and Adolescent Post- Divorced Adjustment - Gene Brody and Rex
Forehand, University of Georgia, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol.
11, No. 2, April - June 1990

"Significant correlations were found between the father's reports of
positive relationships with their adolescent offspring and teacher
reports of less anxiety/withdrawal on the part of the adolescents."
(pg. 130, col. 2, 3, lines 7 - 12) The Role of Paternal Variables in
Divorced and Married Families - Amanda Thomas and Rex Forehand,
American Journal of Othopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 1, January 1993

E) REFERENCES AND INDEX TO THE APPENDIX
1988 Census Bureau /National Center for Health Statistics
Child Support & Alimony: 1989 Series P-60, No.173, Pages 6 & 7 of the
1989 Census
Current Population Report, Issued September 1991
Frequency of Visitation by Divorced Fathers: Differences in Reports
by Fathers and Mothers
Sanford H. Braver, Ph.D., Sharlene A. Wolchik, Ph.D., Irwin M.
Sandler, Ph.D., Bruce S. Fogas, Ph.D., Daria Zvetina, M.Ed., American
Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Child Custody and Parental Cooperation
Frank Williams, M.D., Dir. Psychiatry - Cedar-Sinai - Presented at
American Bar Association, Family Law Section, August 1987 and January
1988
Surviving the Breakup
Joan Berlin Kelly and Judith S. Wallerstein, Basic Books
The Effect of the Post Divorce Relationship on Paternal Involvement:
A Longitudinal Analysis
Constance R. Ahrons, Ph.D., and Richard B. Miller, Ph.D., American
Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 63, No. 3, July 1993
Family Ties after Divorce: The Relationship Between Visiting and
Paying Support
Judith A. Seltzer, Nora Shaeffer, Hong-wen Charing, University of
Wisconsin, Journal of Marriage & the Family, Vol. 51, No. 4, November
1989.
Visitation and the Noncustodial Father
Mary Ann P. Koch, Carol R. Lowery, Journal of Divorce, Vol. 8, No. 2,
Winter 1984
Children's Contact with Absent Parents
Judith A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin - Madison and Suzanne M.
Bianchi, U.S. Bureau of the Census - Journal of Marriage and the
Family, Vol. 50, No. 3, August 1988
Relationships between Fathers and Children Who Live Apart: The
Father's Role after Separation
Judith A. Seltzer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Journal of
Marriage and the Family, Vol. 53, No. 1, February 1991
Postdivorce Relationships between Ex-Spouses:
The Roles of Attachment and Interpersonal Conflict
Carol Masheter, University of Utah, Journal of Marriage and the
Family, Volume 53, (February 1991): 103-110
Increasing Our Understanding of Fathers Who Have Infrequent Contact
With Their Children
James R. Dudley, Professor, University North Carolina, under a grant
from Temple University, Family Relations, Vol. 40, No. 3, July 1991
Interparental Conflict, Relationship with the Noncustodial Father,
and Adolescent Post-Divorced Adjustment
Gene Brody and Rex Forehand, University of Georgia, Journal of
Applied Psychology, Vol. 11, No. 2, April - June 1990
Survey of Absent Parents
Freya L. Sonenstein and Charles Calhoun U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, Office of the Secretary for Planning & Evaluation,
July 1988.
The Role of Paternal Variables in Divorced and Married Families
Amanda Thomas and Rex Forehand, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,
Vol. 63, No. 1, January 1993