Trauma-Responsive Justice: Exploring Police Responses to Children During Guardian Arrests Through Publicly Available Video Data

• In Event: Issues and Factors in Police Decision-Making

Abstract

Police in America make 10 million arrests yearly, many involving parents or caregivers, with children often present. Children exposed to such arrests often face immediate and long-term adverse effects, yet their experiences remain overlooked. Moreover, officers’ conduct in these encounters profoundly shapes children’s immediate well-being and attitudes toward police into adulthood. This study explores how police officers respond to children who are present during the arrests of parents or caregivers, analyzing whether they employ trauma-informed and child-sensitive protocols. To do this, we draw on 10 publicly available videos depicting misdemeanor arrests and qualitatively analyze them through a trauma-responsive theoretical lens. We find variations in officer responses, with some showcasing transparent and compassionate communication to assuage harm and others using aggressive approaches, providing inadequate explications, or exhibiting differential treatment of disadvantaged families. These discoveries underscore notable lacunae in police training and practices for safeguarding children. Furthermore, they highlight the inconsistent adoption of the International Association of Chiefs of Police model policy, which offers recommendations for arrest procedures but does not adequately address children's trauma during and after witnessing an arrest. We recommend implementing trauma-responsive procedures during arrests and, for nonviolent offenses, utilizing summonses when appropriate to reduce unnecessary harm to children.

Authors

• Ermus St. Louis, Northeastern University

• Patrice D. Collins, Northeastern University