JCF Officer Reports Growing Number of Fathers Seeking Family Court Orders for Child Access

Corporal Adrian Cornwall of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Domestic Violence Unit says a rising number of fathers are bringing their children's mothers before the Family Court in efforts to stay part of their offspring's upbringing.

Cornwall shared that view on Sunday at a fatherhood forum staged by the Right Shift Foundation in collaboration with the JCF at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

When asked whether more men were now taking women to court, he replied: "Right now, as you speak. Just as a lot of men are taking women."

He linked many of the disputes to fathers being shut out once romantic relationships end. "Because they are barred, because of the bitterness, because of the issue that they have with the men. They are one-time lovers. That sweetness in the relationship is no more. So they bar the father from being involved in the child's life," Cornwall said.

Cornwall noted that numerous fathers who approach the police want direction on how the Family Court process works, including steps to obtain maintenance or custody orders. "There are a lot of cases we are seeing where women leave the children up on the fathers... and these men are coming to us as the police for guidance and we're giving them that guidance. Appointing them to the family court and they are getting the assistance down there," he said.

While financial support matters, Cornwall stressed that custody arrangements give fathers a wider hand in raising their children. "Custody with the maintenance is key because you can access the child and because they can access the child, you one-to-one can cater for all the needs, not just financial aspect for the child, but also the psychological, emotional, discipline, everything and you have that chance to be the father for that child," he said.

Kevin Wallen, executive director of the Right Shift Foundation, said he too has seen what he called a welcome change, with growing numbers of men working to stay engaged with their children. "Absolutely. You see a lot more fathers that are actively involved," Wallen said. "A lot more fathers that are actively fighting to get involved and to remain involved. So, yes, there is a big shift."

Wallen said the programme aimed to honour not only biological fathers but also father figures who contribute positively within their communities. "So it wasn't necessarily just about the biological fathers, but it's the fathers, it's the father figures that I wanted to identify and just kind of make them know that they're important and the role that they play is important."

He urged wider community dialogue on fatherhood and told men not to abandon their role in their children's lives. "Your children look to you as a God. It doesn't matter what the world thinks of you. It doesn't matter what your baby mother thinks of you. It doesn't matter what anybody thinks of you. Your children see you as a God," Wallen said. "Their confidence is shaken when you're not there. Everything about them is different. A lot of these girls are running into the arms of older men. It's them father them trying to find. It's that stability. It's that steadiness that they're trying to find."

Addressing fathers directly, he added: "Whatever it is that you have to do to remain in the children's life, it makes a difference. Do it."

The gathering formed part of an ongoing Right Shift Foundation partnership with the JCF to promote greater accountability among men, especially in inner-city areas, and to strengthen family bonds through positive fatherhood.