Kentucky bishops back bill to allow ‘alternative sentencing’ for criminals with children

The Catholic bishops of Kentucky are backing proposed legislation that would require a court to consider alternative sentencing for convicted criminals who have young children.

The measure states that Kentucky wishes to “promote, strengthen, and encourage family life for the protection and care of children” and “maintain the family unit with an emphasis on the parent-child relationship.”

Parental incarceration is classified as an “adverse childhood experience,” the bill notes, which can lead to poor mental and physical health outcomes and increase a child’s chances of criminal activity in turn.

The bill would require courts to consider a convicted criminal’s “status as a primary caretaker of a dependent child” before imposing a sentence. A court would be required to “consider an alternative sentence” in such circumstances while weighing the parent’s criminal history, the seriousness of the crime, and other factors.

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