Why Psychological and Pedagogical Examinations in Disputes Concerning Child-Rearing Do Not Meet the Needs of Justice

Abstract

Basing on the compilation of expert practice and the analysis of court practice reasons for the extensive increase psychological and pedagogical examinations assigned in civil proceedings in cases concerning child-rearing are addressed. The main associated issues are the lack of the own methodology for psychological and pedagogical examinations in the judicial proceedings; resolving questions by educational and education psychologists, which are out of the scope of their specialized knowledge and competence, including those falling within the purview of the court’s exclusive com­petence; giving unreasonable advice, which violates citizens’ rights; the lack of professional compe­tence necessary to conduct forensic expertise. It is found that opinions on the results of psychological and pedagogical examinations do not meet the requirements of the law, including on account of private educational psychologists’ insufficient professional training. It is shown that the inadequacy of law regarding professional and qualification requirements to experts allows courts to treat the verification of experts’ competence uncritically. As a result, an improper subject of forensic activity is introduced to the civil proceedings, which violates citizens’ rights to justice, undermines people’s trust in the institutions of forensic expertise and judicial authority. Given the relevance of the issue, the grounds for application of specialized psychological knowledge in the form of forensic expertise in the civil disputes involving child-rearing are presented in the article, the scope of the necessary experts’ competences is outlined as well as the requirements to their specialized professional training, since forensic examinations must be conducted on a strictly scientific basis, objec­tively and comprehensively.