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Safeguarding
Children of Arrested Parents
in New York State

The New York State legislature passed the Child Sensitive Arrest bill during the 2024 legislative session and it is awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature. This bill would minimize the trauma children experience when they witness their parents' arrest. Please help get this bill across the finish line by contacting Governor Kathy Hochul TODAY to ask that she sign this bill into law before the end of this year. 

 

This bill will require the New York State Police to implement a policy to safeguard children of arrested parents and require all Police Departments in New York to, at minimum, ensure that care arrangements are made for the child. We call on Governor Hochul to not only sign this bill into law, but to strengthen the legislation by requiring that substantive training on safeguarding children be offered to law enforcement to ensure that Officers have tools to minimize trauma and increase their confidence in situations involving children. Learn more about the bill here.

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1

CONTACT Governor Hochul

Subject: Please Sign S2747, Child Sensitive Arrest Bill 

​​​​​​​Dear Governor Hochul,​

I urge you to sign the Child Sensitive Arrest bill (S2747) into law. Children who witness their parent’s arrest tell us that they are often traumatized and feel ignored by law enforcement. Some children form a negative impression of police that they carry into adulthood, leading them to not seek out police in times of need, report crimes, or cooperate with investigations. 

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S2747 will require the New York State Police to implement policies to safeguard children and require all Police Departments to ensure an alternate caregiver is identified to care for a child. I urge you to strengthen this bill by requiring NYS DCJS to offer substantive training to ensure Officers have tools to minimize trauma and increase their confidence in situations involving children. Governor Hochul, families are counting on you to sign this bill into law now.

 

Thank you,

2

Tweet Governor Hochul

 

@KathyHochul please sign Child Sensitive Arrest bill S2747 into law. It is critical that New York State Law Enforcement Agencies have policies and training to minimize trauma for children present during a parent or caregivers arrest. Families are counting on you.

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