Arrest and Sentencing

Children are often overlooked at the time of a parent’s arrest and sentencing. As a result of this invisibility, they can be harmed by witnessing their parents in handcuffs, officers with weapons drawn, or the use of force, and harmed by bail and sentencing decisions that do not consider their well-being.

We are pressing police agencies to implement guidelines and training to safeguard children present at a parent or caregiver’s arrest. We have worked with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and police departments in Albany, NYC, and Buffalo. We promote the use of Family Impact Statements to ensure that prosecutors and judges weigh the impact of their decisions on children.