Children of Arrested Parents: Strategies To Improve Their Safety and Well-Being

• NCJ Number: 222913
• Author(s): Clare M. Nolan
• Date Published: July 2003
• Length: 57 pages
• Sale Source: California Research Bureau
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded June 1, 2008

Annotation

This report examines practices and policies in California pertinent to the safety and well-being of children impacted by the arrest of a custodial parent, with attention to those children for whom there is no evidence of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment, since there are no existing child-protection mandates for such children.

Abstract

Based on interviews with key stakeholders from law enforcement, child welfare agencies, corrections, and research and advocacy groups, this paper offers recommendations for improving services to these children. One recommendation is the implementation of minimum thresholds for the intervention of child-protection-services (CPS) agencies when a custodial parent has been arrested. In this regard, CPS agencies should be required to respond to law enforcement requests for assistance with children who meet specified criteria for intervention. A second recommendation is to design local-level initiatives that inform State policymaking. The State can do more to support integrated local-level strategies that address the creation, stability, and quality of caretaking environments for children of arrested parents. A third recommendation is to place authority for promoting and coordinating local efforts for managing these children at the State level. State-level coordination can provide important support and direction in developing a policy agenda, establishing effective strategies, identifying barriers to change, promoting research and evaluation, and improving the performance of local communities. A fourth recommendation is to direct the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to create training materials and courses on the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement officers regarding children whose custodial parent has been arrested. A fifth recommendation is to convene an advisory group on children of arrested parents. A State-level advisory group could facilitate the integration of the management of children of arrestees into a number of existing State initiatives. 62 references and appended list of interviewees and county-by-county estimates of the number of arrests of single parents of minor children in 2001