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Child Trauma Response Teams & Child Sensitive Arrests Course

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Nearly 52 percent of individuals currently incarcerated in state systems, and 63 percent of individuals incarcerated in federal systems, are parents of minor children. Additionally, about 22 percent of the individuals in state prison, and 16 percent of individuals incarcerated in the federal prison system have children under the age of four. The arrest and subsequent imprisonment of parents and family members can disrupt close familial relationships, alter a child’s network of familial support, and place a substantial financial, social, and emotional burden upon the school and judicial system. Furthermore, roughly two out of every five children who witness their parent’s arrest or lose a parent to incarceration develop emotional and behavioral issues as they progress into adulthood. That statistic is nearly double the existing rate for children in the general US population who have not experienced a familial arrest. The National Center for Victims of Crime aims to educate law enforcement personnel, criminal justice actors, and relevant organizations on the impacts of parental arrests, as well as primary/secondary prevention vs. intervention strategies.

This course incorporates strategies proposed by the New York Police Department Safe Horizon Model and provides evidence-backed tools and strategies that are proven to reduce trauma and facilitate trust between law enforcement officers and children in their local communities.

This training is centered on principles developed by assessing various training tools and resources focused on witness and victim intimidation prevention and responses, including research conducted by Arizona State University and AEquitas. This training will use research, discussion questions, and videos to present the material in an engaging format, and will conclude with a case study designed to summarize and help participants think critically about the topics covered.

This training is designed to be presented as a whole or in portions on a case-by-case basis, depending on what is most relevant to the site seeking technical assistance.

Goal and Objectives:

• Provide law enforcement and victim advocates with a background on the effects of witnessing violence and parental arrests on children.
• Educate officials on child trauma and reducing its impact on communities as a long-term crime prevention strategy.
• Cultivate effective methods for child-sensitive arrests.
• Provide steps for implementing child trauma response teams for domestic violence calls.
• Educate law enforcement on community-based interventions as alternatives to child trauma response teams (in cases where there is a lack of funding or staffing capacity).

Intended Audience:

Law enforcement.

TTA Format: Available in person and virtually.
Length:

One to two days.

Agenda:

• Effects of witnessing violence and parental arrests on children
• Impacts of trauma
• Effective methods for child-sensitive arrests
• Steps to implementing child trauma response teams for domestic violence calls

SMEs/Trainers:

Trainers are available and can be identified based on the needs of the PSN site.