---
title: How Can I, as a Forensic Psychologist, Identify and Mitigate Bias in Child Custody Evaluations and Parenting Plans?
description: Examine the profound effects of parental incarceration on families, children, and communities, and the necessity for policy reforms to address these challenges.
---

[The Business of Practice ](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog)

# [How Can I, as a Forensic Psychologist, Identify and Mitigate Bias in Child Custody Evaluations and Parenting Plans?](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/how-can-i-as-a-forensic-psychologist-identify-and-mitigate-bias-in-child-custody-evaluations-and-parenting-plans)

 Written by [Owen Poindexter](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/author/owen-poindexter) | Nov 20, 2025 10:23:10 PM

For forensic psychologists, minimizing bias in child custody and parenting plan evaluations is an ethical imperative. These high-stakes assessments directly influence judicial decisions that shape children's lives and family structures, and they are vulnerable to the same cognitive biases that affect all human judgment, including expert decision-making. Training that attunes one to natural human blind spots is essential for forensic psychologists working in child custody, both for promoting optimal outcomes and maintaining ethical standards.

 

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