Jw. Gould et Lc. Bell, Forensic methods and procedures applied to child custody evaluations: Whatjudges need to know in determining a competent forensic work product, JUVEN FAM C, 51(3), 2000, pp. 21-29
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.