First, do no harm: Model practices for law enforcement agencies when arresting parents in the presence of children
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This report recommends that law enforcement agencies incorporate the model practices outlined into their policies and protocols for responding to calls for service. In many cases, a checklist that requires officers to actively affirm they have followed these practices is an effective way to promote and track compliance. This report recommends that law enforcement agencies and interagency teams develop data collection systems and practices to demonstrate the impact of parental arrest, explain the need for resources to local authorities and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for responding to children of arrested parents. The remainder of this report provides a detailed treatment of topics related to parental arrest, including the effects and extent of exposure to trauma and violence in children; current efforts at the national, state and local levels to improve the treatment of children during parental arrest; and detailed model practices for improving the treatment of children during parental arrest.