Americas Custody Crisis

Let’s confront a troubling reality that exists in our family courts today. The systems designed to protect our children and ensure their well-being are fundamentally flawed, and can be driven by monetary incentives.

Each PRE custody evaluation can cost an astonishing $10,000 per child. This is absurd. So, if one parent then requests a PRE evaluation, the other then, is forced to pay too. Abusers are often times asking for these evaluations. Incredibly, there is no limit on the number of cases that an evaluator can undergo for any given period, which means financial motivations can, and often do, overshadow the principles of the best interests of the child standard that is supposed to be at the forfront of the reasoning for ordering an evaluation in the first place. The need for clear guidelines and accountability for the evaluators and for the Colorado Court system that is governing this PRE program is paramount.

When financial stakes are this high and incentives are misaligned, we risk commodifying the welfare of our children. The focus shifts from what is best for the child to what benefits the evaluators, lawyers, and the system itself.

This is not just an economic issue; it is a moral imperative. The question becomes: what kind of future are we creating when the safety and basic care of our children can be is determined by a dollar amount? This is not truly valuing the sanctity of family, the importance of stability and safety, and the "Best Interests of the Child Standard" that the judicial system references, but very often fails to uphold.

We must demand accountability and transparency in these evaluation  processes. We must advocate for a system that truly prioritizes the best interests of the child above all else. When we challenge these structures, we question the status quo, and ensure that our children and future generations are not pawns in a game driven by financial gain.

Ultimately, we are determining the outcomes of these children's lives. For the courts and evaluators, this may be just another case and another paycheck, but for the families fighting to protect their children or themselves, this will set the course for their future.

If the judicial system was upholding a theory where the welfare of our children is paramount,  we would be able to invest in their futures, not just financially, but morally and ethically.