Saturday, April 30, 2011

judges to make decisions unique to individual cases according to what will be in children's future (and undefined) best interests

http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/info/custody-abuse/gals-and-custody-evaluators/a-critical-assessment-of-child-custody-evaluations-limited-science-and-a-flawed-system
Association For Psychological Science In the Public Interest
Psychologists and other mental health professionals increasingly have become involved in evaluating children and families in custody disputes, because of the large number of separated, divorced, and never-married parents and the substantial conflict that often accompanies the breakup of a family. Theoretically, the law guides and controls child custody evaluations, but the prevailing custody standard (the "best interests of the child" test) is a vague rule that directs judges to make decisions unique to individual cases according to what will be in children's future (and undefined) best interests. Furthermore, state statutes typically offer only vague guidelines as to how judges (and evaluators) are to assess parents and the merits of their cases, and how they should ultimately decide what custody arrangements will be in a child's best interests.  More
http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/info/custody-abuse/gals-and-custody-evaluators

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