JUDICIAL DECISION-MAKING IN CONTESTED CUSTODY CASES - THE INFLUENCE OF REPORTED CHILD-ABUSE, SPOUSE ABUSE, AND PARENTAL SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

This study examined the relationship between allegations of maltreatme nt and substance abuse, and custody awards in Florida. Information con cerning the presence, or absence, of these reports was collected on 60 contested initial disposition, or disposition modification cases, and was used to model judicial decision-making. Substantiated reports of child and spouse abuse occurred very infrequently in our sample. Conve rsely, substance abuse allegations occurred much more frequently. Judg es appeared responsive to allegations of abuse with regard to awards o f primary physical residence, despite the lack of substantiated eviden ce. Maltreatment allegations had no apparent impact, however, on award s of shared, versus sole, custody. Additionally, reports of parental s ubstance abuse also had no apparent impact on judicial decision-making . Implications of these results are discussed.