Documenting and Reporting Child Endangerment 2004 recommendation: Arrest or citation forms should provide a place for the arresting officer to insert the appropriate information concerning ages of children in the vehicle following a DUI/DWI arrest or an offense concerning violation of child restraint laws. This would serve to emphasize and remind the arresting officer that this may be an issue in the prosecution of the case. The form should contain sufficient information that will be provided to child protective service agencies to enable them to conduct an investigation of possible child abuse. 2017 update: The 2017 panel maintains this recommendation, along with mandatory reporting to child protective service agencies when there is a child present in a vehicle being operated by a drunk driver. Enhancement Efforts 2004 recommendation: Law enforcement should conduct regular enhanced enforcement efforts for impaired driving and passenger restraint laws. As part of these enhanced enforcement efforts, law enforcement should be trained on the importance of and method for detecting and charging drivers who drink and drive with minor children in their vehicle and/or who violate child restraint laws. 2017 update: The 2017 panel maintains this recommendation. Prosecutor Updates 2004 recommendation: Prosecutors’ offices periodically offer briefings to law enforcement agencies within their jurisdiction to update officers on changes in the laws and to improve case preparation and prosecution. Prosecutors should take advantage of these briefings to re-emphasize the need to properly charge these cases when the facts of 2004 recommendation: The Governor’s Highway Safety Offices and Offices of Traffic Safety should fund training programs to address the problem of child endangerment. 2017 update: The 2017 panel maintains this recommendation. Law Enforcement Recognition The 2017 panel recommends that MADD continue to conduct law enforcement recognition events and provide awards for outstanding efforts in regard to drunk and drugged driving child endangerment on both a national and local level. Additionally, local law enforcement agencies are encouraged to recognize officers for outstanding work in these efforts. These recognition opportunities are meaningful and motivating to officers. In 2017, MADD conducted 84 law enforcement recognition events across the country, recognizing 4,452 officers. MADD is currently working with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to develop a national awards program to be presented during the IACP annual conference. the case support the charge of DUI/DWI child endangerment. 2017 update: The 2017 panel maintains this recommendation. Funding for Training
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