A state bill that would expand alternatives to sentences for parents convicted of nonviolent crimes advanced out of committee Thursday.
House Bill 291 would require criminal courts to consider if a convicted defendant is the primary caretaker of a child.
A judge would then be able to consider other forms of sentencing that don’t result in jail time, like counseling or parenting classes.
Cortney Downs from Kentucky Youth Advocates spoke on behalf of the bill during the meeting. She says parental incarceration can be a traumatizing experience for children.
“For very young children, we know that connection is foundational to their healthy development, and depending on how long a parent is incarcerated, that separation can either weaken their bond or prevent it from ever forming,” she said.
The organization says around 102,000 kids in Kentucky have had at least one parent incarcerated at some point. That’s more than 11% of the state’s child population.
The bill passed out of committee unanimously and is now on the House floor.
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