Forensic Methodology Publications

Dr. Austin's scholarship and publications concern forensic methodology for child custody evaluations and discussion of professional issues related to custody evaluation. The forensic models that have been created for relocation and intimate partner violence were designed to assist evaluators in taking a systematic approach to these complex issues. They are also research-based. The models are part of the forensic method that evaluators may choose to use to guide their collection of data and analysis of potential risk to children.

Other publications by Dr. Austin also concern forensic methodology and are designed to assist custody evaluators on the details of custody evaluation. In 2002 a framework for using collateral data/interviews was proposed (Austin, 2002). In 2004, with Dr. H. D. Kirkpatrick, the only article on issues and importance of forensic investigation in custody evaluation was published (Austin & Kirkpatrick, 2004). This article is relevant to experts who do review work. A common short-coming of custody evaluation (and a reason the court expert might not be helpful to the court) is the lack of careful investigation on important issues. For example, investigative reports by a social or human service agency on child abuse might be accepted at face value and not critically examined. Or, the credibility of allegations of partner violence might not be thoroughly examined such as by using Dr. Austin's model for assessing the credibility of such allegations (Austin, 2000).

These publications on collaterals and investigation should be useful for reviewers who are called on to assess the forensic quality of custody evaluations. The reader can go to the Work Product Review page on this website to read about review work and Dr. Austin's articles on review work. Dr. Austin's professional activities have addressed the general issue monitoring and promoting quality in forensic custody evaluations. His work as one of the director of the AFCC task force that produced the Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation was designed to modernize the standards for the field on child custody and to raise the bar for evaluators so they can be most helpful to the court and children. A recent article discusses the issue of forensic quality of custody evaluations and for reviewers to serve a function of forensic quality control for the court (Austin, 2009).