Bill > A00813

This bill directs the superintendent of state police, in consultation with the office of children and family services, to develop, maintain, and disseminate written policies and procedures for child-sensitive arrest practices when a parent, guardian, or primary caregiver of a child under 18 is being arrested. The policies will require law enforcement officers to identify whether an arrestee is a primary caregiver and take steps to minimize the emotional impact on children during the arrest. Specifically, the procedures will include methods for documenting the arrestee's relationship to children, allowing additional phone calls to arrange child care, taking actions to reduce the potential trauma of witnessing an arrest, and providing information about community resources like crisis intervention and child protection services. The bill modifies existing laws in the executive and criminal procedure sections to ensure that law enforcement officers, to the extent practicable, will take appropriate actions to protect and support children when a parent or guardian is being arrested, with the goal of minimizing the potential emotional and practical disruption to the child's well-being.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A813