Earlier today, it was announced that the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Forensic Custody Evaluations has concluded its work and issued its report to @govkathyhochul. The Blue-Ribbon Commission has issued a total of 11 recommendations within its report.
New York’s Blue-Ribbon Commission consists of former judges, academics, attorneys practicing family and matrimonial law, children's rights experts, domestic violence advocates, psychologists and parents.
The report is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when court professionals and state officials collaborate with protective parents, survivors and victims alike.
We hope you feel encouraged reading this report as well. We will be sharing the URL link to the report within our stories. You can also find it below:
https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/cwcs/assets/docs/Blue-Ribbon-Commission-Report-2022.pdf
Announced in the 2021 State of the State and convened in June 2021, the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Forensic Custody Evaluations (“the Commission”) was charged with providing recommendations to the Governor regarding if and/or how forensic custody evaluations should be used by New York courts. New York State convened the Commission after hearing from parents, attorneys, and other court actors who reported negative experiences with forensic custody evaluators. In the New York State courts, judges order and rely on forensic evaluations for some cases involving child custody and parenting time.
Statewide, there is no consistent approach regarding if and/or when evaluations are ordered, who may act as a forensic custody evaluator, how evaluators should conduct these evaluations, or how incompetent or unethical evaluations may be subject to review. While there are longstanding certification, credentialing, training, and accountability processes in place for the courts in the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding counties composing the First and Second Appellate Divisions of the New York State Judiciary, these do not extend upstate.
The Commission is co-chaired by the Honorable Sherry Klein Heitler (Ret.), former Chief of Policy and Planning for the New York State Unified Court System and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commissioner Sheila Poole of the Office of Children and Family Services, and Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Owens. The members of the Commission include former judges, academics, attorneys who practice family and matrimonial law, children's rights experts, domestic violence advocates, psychologists, and parents. Coming to this work from different perspectives and committing to make a good faith effort to address this important issue, the Commission members gave generously of their time, energy, and expertise in developing recommendations for the Governor.
Announced in the 2021 State of the State and convened in June 2021, the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Forensic Custody Evaluations (“the Commission”) was charged with providing recommendations to the Governor regarding if and/or how forensic custody evaluations should be used by New York courts. New York State convened the Commission after hearing from parents, attorneys, and other court actors who reported negative experiences with forensic custody evaluators. In the New York State courts, judges order and rely on forensic evaluations for some cases involving child custody and parenting time. Statewide, there is no consistent approach regarding if and/or when evaluations are ordered, who may act as a forensic custody evaluator, how evaluators should conduct these evaluations, or how incompetent or unethical evaluations may be subject to review. While there are longstanding certification, credentialing, training, and accountability processes in place for the courts in the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding counties composing the First and Second Appellate Divisions of the New York State Judiciary, these do not extend upstate. The Commission is co-chaired by the Honorable Sherry Klein Heitler (Ret.), former Chief of Policy and Planning for the New York State Unified Court System and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commissioner Sheila Poole of the Office of Children and Family Services, and Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Owens.
The members of the Commission include former judges, academics, attorneys who practice family and matrimonial law, children's rights experts, domestic violence advocates, psychologists, and parents. Coming to this work from different perspectives and committing to make a good faith effort to address this important issue, the Commission members gave generously of their time, energy, and expertise in developing recommendations for the Governor.
Link to report: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/cwcs/assets/docs/Blue-Ribbon-Commission-Report-2022.pdf