Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice

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Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice

• Gerald L. Darling
• Chief
• Miami-Dade Schools Police Department
• District Security

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Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami-Dade
Schools Police Department

• 4th largest school district in nation
• 350,000 students
• 40,000 employees
• 400 sites
• 5th largest police agency in county
• 220 sworn personnel
• Full service police department

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Florida's Zero-Tolerance Policy

• Required for serious criminal offenses and/or
  administrative violations i.e., weapons,
  narcotics, assaults and batteries on staff
  members, etc.
• Can be rigid and unforgiving for minor
  transgressions, and have unintended results
• Must be applied fairly, equally and equitably
  throughout school and district, however
  consideration should be afforded to factors such
  as age, grade, offense type and other intangibles
  
• Critics state that it symbolizes a movement of
  treating youth more like adults
• Supporters claim it provides simple and
  infallible guidelines

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Florida's Zero-Tolerance Policy

• Zero-Tolerance is a response to student
  misbehavior, but cannot serve as a
  one-size-fits-all solution
• Zero-Tolerance will result in suspensions and
  expulsions, but therein lays the opportunity for
  discretion i.e., alternatives to arrests
  suspensions, suspension centers and suspension
  reduction programs
• Zero-Tolerance policies have a direct connection
  with law enforcement functions

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Florida's Zero-Tolerance Policy

• The conversation between academicians and law
  enforcement must entail how the application of a
  Zero-Tolerance policy can best benefit the
  children, system and community both now and in
  the future
• This conversation must discuss how the two bodies
  can mesh ideas for safer schools, higher academic
  achievement and improved student-school
  connectedness

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Alternatives and Compliments to Zero-Tolerance
Policies

• Intervention, Prevention and Enforcement as a
  last resort
• Examining school and community for systemic
  problems that serve as catalysts for student
  misbehavior and youth violence
• Identify early warning signs and risk factors
  such as bullying, reading below grade level,
  truancy, drug alcohol abuse and other issues
• Assess the schools and police agencies for
  shortcomings and areas were services can be
  improved

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The Role of Law Enforcement

• Primary role is and will always be centered on
  traditional policing and crime reduction
• Recognize that school policing is different, and
  involves several opportunities not afforded to
  conventional police agencies i.e., controlled
  environment and real-time data
• Options must include arrest diversion,
  specialized programs and services and mentoring

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Models in Miami-Dade County

• Civil Citation Program
• Organized Multi-Agency Truancy Sweeps
• Gun Buy Back Programs
• Strategic Presentations
• Collaboration among School Operations, Student
  Services and other law enforcement agencies
• Value Based Training for law enforcement
  personnel in areas identified as deficiencies
• Mentoring programs
• M-PACT for at-risk students or gang members
• Academy themes preparing students to join
  workforce after completing school

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Here is How Some of the Models Work

• Civil Citation began as pilot program and now
  expanded countywide for almost all misdemeanors
• Truancy Sweeps conducted monthly aboard
  METRORAIL and within neighborhoods with support
  from school social workers
• Strategic Presentations content specific and
  delivered to schools based on data reflecting
  trends and certain types of incidents
• Value Based Training changing how law
  enforcement has historically trained officers,
  conducting self assessments and emphasizing on
  deficiencies such as sensitivity training and
  consequences to arrest
• Mentoring identifying critical times where
  parental supervision is in question, police-youth
  relations, tutorial services, Cadet Programs and
  other life skills training

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Crime Suspension Reduction

• 2003-04 school year incident per 1000 students
  was 251000
• 2006-07 school year incident per 1000 students
  was 81000
• Arrest reduction of over 45
• Serious Targeted Incident reduction of over 47
• Reductions in outdoor suspensions
• Improved attendance supported by monthly truancy
  sweeps

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Zero-Tolerance Policy

• Is it good or bad?
• While school administrators need to address
  student behavior and true disciplinary issues,
  there are pragmatic concerns in doing this fairly
  without absorbing significant consequences that
  would parallel mandatory sentencing in a
  courtroom setting
• Applied correctly and sensibly, with the support
  of a law enforcement component done in the same
  manner that embraces a philosophy of intervention
  and prevention, can enhance safety within schools