ABSTRACT
In order to draw effective conclusions in child maltreatment risk assessment, providers must make many decisions along the course of assessment. This chapter explores decision making processes in child abuse and neglect assessment and their roots in cognitive psychology research. The usefulness and drawbacks of both intuitive thinking and analytical thinking is discussed along with other factors that complicate decision making in child maltreatment work. The ethics of risk assessment are detailed and guidelines for ethical practice are specified. Kantian teleology and utilitarianism are both discussed, as well as ethical standards for forensic evaluation from the psychological board. A discussion of children’s rights is followed by an outline of a model for best practices in risk assessment.
