The Parenting Experiences of Mothers in Conflict with the Law

If the arrest is made outside of the home (for example, in the case of a traffic stop), the officer should directly ask if arrangements will need to be made for any children in the care of the arrested parent. [...] This can give the officer the opportunity to assess the suitability of the caregiving arrangement, offer community-based resources to the caregiver and child, and can increase the child’s feelings of safety and security. [...] Sharing the information in a truthful and age-appropriate way can protect the bond between the child and the parent.15 Child visits during this time are crucial for maintaining the parental bond and alleviating the children’s fears and anxiety. [...] 6 The Parenting Experiences of Mothers in Conflict with the Law of the caregiver to facilitate the visit, or the fact that the pre-trial detention facility is very far from where the children reside. [...] The following measures should be considered to ensure mothers can successfully complete a community-based sentence: Holistic, trauma-informed training, grounded in the rights of the child (as operationalized by the Convention on the Rights of the Child) should be developed for the range of stakeholders, including probation officers, that support mothers throughout the various stages of a crimina.