> Amicus Briefs
> Case Law
> PAS (Parental Alienation
"Syndrome") |
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"P.A.S.
per se (not “parents lying about abuse allegations”) is not a syndrome.
People lie on the witness stand every day but that does
not make it a syndrome. Various credible studies have
documented that the incidence of false allegations of abuse in custody
proceedings make up significantly less than 5% of all abuse allegations
in custody proceedings. When mental health experts or
attorneys claim that P.A.S. is a “syndrome” -- knowing full
well that it lacks scientific validity, is the concoction of a disgraced
psychologist, and has been soundly rejected by the National Council
of Juvenile and Family Court Judges -- that is disingenuous at best
and unethical at worst. Moreover, when it is used as a vehicle
to keep children in the custody of men who abuse them, it is also
immoral. " - Randy Burton, Founder, Chairman and President
- Justice for Children
- PAS is not included in DSM IV (the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual, 4th edition) which is the authoritative manual for the
professions of psychiatry and psychology. There are some fathers’
rights groups who are mounting a letter writing campaign to have
PAS included in DSM V which is ridiculous because the DSM is based
on research, clinical tests, and professional judgment – not letters
of opinion.
- PAS cannot pass the challenges for acceptance as “scientific”
or “expert” in courts of law. These challenges are called the
“Daubert Challenges” named after a Supreme Court ruling on what
constitutes scientific or expert testimony.
- The National Council of Juvenile and
Family Court Judges has a position that PAS is not to be used
in court.
- National on-line resource center on violence against women
- The Family Court Reform Coalition's memorandum investigating
the lack of scientific support for PAS: Lack
Of Empirical Data, Research or Scientific Basis to Support the
Controversial Psychological Theory Called Parental Alienation
Syndrome (PAS)
- National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recently
published their Navigating Custody and Visitation Evaluations
in Cases with Domestic Violence: A Judge’s Guide.
JFC is pleased that the guide includes a section on the admissibility
of Parental Alienation Syndrome testimony in custody hearings
(on page 19):
Richard Gardner’s theory positing the existence of “parental
alienation syndrome” or “PAS” has been discredited
by the scientific community. Testimony that a party to a custody
case suffers from the syndrome should therefore be ruled inadmissible
both under the standard established in Daubert and the
stricter Frye standard.
This council of judges has deemed that the evidence against the
existence of PAS is sufficient enough to throw out the concept
entirely! Hopefully this will bring some justice to those
who have been unlawfully accused of this imaginary and outrageous
"syndrome."
To read the guide in its entirety, please click here.
- State Board of Psychology of Ohio determines Suitability of
Darnall:
Dec. 9, 2002 Sept.
12, 2003
Leader in the PAS movement, Douglas Darnall, Ph.D.,
had his licence suspend in Ohio.
Justice For Children
urges PAS rejection, reverse lower court's ruling
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