Honestie Hodges facts for kids

Honestie Hodges (born November 9, 2006 – died November 22, 2020) was a young American girl from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She became known for an event that led to a new policy for how police interact with children.

A New Police Policy

On December 6, 2017, when Honestie was 11 years old, she was involved in a police search. Police officers were looking for someone suspected of a crime. During this search, Honestie was handcuffed by the Grand Rapids Police Department.

Video from the officers' body cameras showed what happened. This video was shared across the United States. Many people saw it and talked about it.

Because of this event, the Grand Rapids Police Department created a new rule. This rule is called the Youth Interactions Policy. People also called it the "Honestie Policy." It started in March 2018.

What the Honestie Policy Does

The Honestie Policy helps police officers know how to act when they meet children and young people. It asks them to use gentle ways to handle situations. It means they should try to use the least strict methods possible when dealing with kids. This policy helps keep young people safe during police interactions.

Later Life and Passing

Honestie Hodges got COVID-19 on November 9, 2020. This was on her 14th birthday. The COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan was happening at that time. Sadly, she passed away from the virus thirteen days later, on November 22, 2020.