The arrest of a parent can have a significant impact on a child, whether or not the child is present at the time of the arrest. Depending on age and quality of the relationship with the parent, children may feel shock, immense fear, anxiety, or anger towards the arresting officers or law enforcement in general that may linger for many years and have long term consequences.

Over the past two decades, increasing emphasis has been placed on examination of the effects of these events on children of various ages and the ways in which law enforcement can make sure that involved children are not overlooked. But clear guidance for law enforcement agencies has not been widely available until now. This report, an initiative of the Deputy Attorney General and White House Domestic Policy Council and sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, goes to the heart of the matter by providing detailed policy and procedure recommendations and an in depth look at the potential impact of parental arrests on children, whether they are at home at the time or not.

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Note: For this topic, the Model Policy and Concepts & Issues Paper are combined into one document.

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