Forensic Assessment in Child Custody and Child Abuse Cases

Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience

Forensic Assessment in Child Custody and Child Abuse Cases

Volledige vakbeschrijving

Forensic assessment in child custody and child abuse cases (CCA) is the most complex form of assessment a forensic psychologist can be asked to conduct. This type of assessment requires extensive knowledge of child development, child and adult psychopathology, family dynamics and the causes and consequences of trauma, including parental separation. During this course, students will be exposed to best-evidence standards for CCA and will examine real-life CCA forensic evaluations considering these best-evidence standards and the latest empirical research.

Doelstellingen van dit vak

  At the end of this course students:   

  • can perform a critical review of a forensic report in a child custody/child abuse case;
  • are familiar with the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child and with ethical Best Practice Guidelines in this domain of forensic psychological practice in child custody and child abuse cases
  • can judge which tools to use for a forensic evaluation in an alleged child abuse or child custody case.
  • Have basic knowledge and experience with a child forensic interview protocol (i.e., NICHD protocol), a child abuse risk assessment instrument (i.e., CARE-Version 2), and a screening tool for intimate partner violence (MASIC).

Aanbevolen literatuur

J.W. Gould & D.A. Martindale (2009). The art and science of child custody evaluations. New York: Guilford Press. E-reader.

PSY4616
Periode 5
7 apr 2025
6 jun 2025
Vakbeschrijving afdrukken
Studiepunten: 
2.0
Taal van de opleiding: 
Engels
Coordinators:
Onderwijsmethode: 
Assignment(s), Lecture(s), Presentation(s), Skills, Work in subgroups
Evaluatiemethoden: 
Attendance, Assignment
Trefwoorden: 
Child custody, child abuse, forensic evaluation, parenting capacity, children’s rights, risk assessment