Forensic methods and procedures applied to child custody evaluations: Whatjudges need to know in determining a competent forensic work product

Judges are seeing an increase in the number of forensic reports in the area of child custody. This increase in forensic mental health involvement sugg ests that judges need to better understand the application of current foren sic mental health methodology to assist them in determining a competent for ensic work product. Recent literature has argued that child custody evaluat ors need to craft their reports consistent with scientific methods and proc edures as well as legal standards governing admissibility of scientific evi dence. This paper provides a framework for judges to assist in determining whether a child custody evaluation has been crafted consistent with current behavioral science literature pertaining to use of forensic mental health methods and procedures.