Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents

Marketing items placed in the IACP bi-weekly electronic newsletter. Items targeted for outreach and marketing were the CAP webinars and the CAP Model Policy.

Various individuals requested hard copies of the model policy. Disseminated 319 copies.

Executive briefing on model policy at the IACP's Division of State Associations of Chiefs of Police Mid-year Meeting in San Antonio, TX. Captain Francis Healy from the Philadelphia Police Department presented on the IACP Children of Arrested Parent's Policy. Each attendee received the Model Policy and other training resources such at the training keys and the pre-arrest/arrest checklist.

This workshop was presented at the IACP Annual Conference. The workshop panelists and attendees discussed the issues related to law enforcement’s duty to safeguard the emotional, mental, psychological, and physical well-being of children of arrested parents, such as how to identify whether children are involved, determining who should take temporary custody, and how officers should interact with children in an effort to reduce potential trauma.

Panelists discussed the potential risks to children of arrested parents during tactical and investigative operations, and provided strategies and best practice recommendations for law enforcement to mitigate these risks. Resources were provided to assist law enforcement agencies in developing and implementing a policy to safeguard children during these operations.

Presenters provided best practice recommendations and strategies to protect children and to help prevent trauma at the time of parental arrest. Resources were shared to assist law enforcement agencies in developing, enhancing and implementing a safeguarding children of arrested parents policy.

The discussion will include: