The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions

Description

The legal system requires mental health professionals to provide research summaries to support their evaluations in child custody cases. Contributions from leading developmental researchers, legal professionals, and clinicians describe how scientific evidence is properly used in court. Timely and current, this book helps evaluators access the best information to fulfill their obligations to their clients and the court. The Second Edition adds chapters on family observation, parental alienation, and sexual abuse. Forensic psychologists, family lawyers, and judges will be equipped with the most current information to aid in custody decisions.

Table of Contents

Preface.
Preface to the Second Edition.
Introduction (Robert Galatzer-Levy).

1. From Empirical Findings to Custody Evaluations (Robert Galatzer-Levy, Jonathan Gould, David Martindale).
2. Legal and Ethical Issues in Child Custody Evaluations (David A. Martindale and Norman M. Sheresky).
3. Observations of Parents, Caretakers and Children for Child Custody Assessment (Anita Lampl).
4. Use of Psychological Tests in Child Custody Evaluations (Jonathan Gould, David A. Martindale, and James R. Flens).
5. An Updated Review of the Effects of System and Estimator Variables on Child Witness Accuracy in Custody Cases (Bradley D. McAuliff, Margaret Bull Kovera, and Livia L. Gilstrap).
6. The Importance of Attachment in Custody Evaluations: Towards the Best Interest of the Child (Louis Kraus and Kayla Pope).
7. Improving the Quality of Parent-Child Contact in Separating Families with Infants and Young Children: Empirical Research Foundations (Michael E. Lamb and Joan B. Kelly).
8. Divorce, Custody and Visitation in Mid-Childhood (Louis Kraus, Robin Shapiro, and Robert M. Galatzer-Levy).
9. Custody Evaluations of Adolescents (Sarghi Sharma and Christopher Thomas).
10. Adopted Children and Custody Arrangements (Susan M. Fisher).
11. Medically Ill Children and Adolescents (Brenda Bursch).
12. Parental Sexual Orientation, Social Science Research, and Child Custody Decisions (Charlotte J. Patterson).
13. Parents with Serious Mental Illness and Child Custody (Michael J. Jenuwine and Bertram J. Cohler).
14. Child Adjustment and High Conflict Divorce (Robin M. Deutsch and Marsha Kline Pruett).
15. Assessing Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse within Complex Custody Cases (Kathryn Kuehnle and Mary Connell).
16. Rejection in Cases of Abuse and/or Alienation in Divorcing Families (Leslie M. Drozd).
17. Joint Custody: A Judicious Choice for Families – But How, When, and Why (Marsha Kline Pruett and Carrie Barker)?
18. Conclusion and Prospects (Robert Galatzer-Levy).