Bias and Prejudice in Custody Evaluations

The biases to which we refer most frequently are attitudinal biases, reflecting a preference or inclination that impairs objectivity and lessens the probability that an impartial judgment will be rendered. It is important to reflect upon the manner in which we use the terms “value” and “bias.” In typical usage, a value is a good thing; a bias is a bad thing. The attitudes with which we agree we refer to as values; those with which we disagree we refer to as biases. The evaluator who feels (for personal or for religious reasons) that children should be raised by a male and a female is likely to describe this belief as a value. A representative of the Lambda Legal Defense Fund is likely to describe this belief as a bias.