Keeping Kids in School PHILADELPHIA POLICE SCHOOL DIVERSION PROGRAM and Out of Court WHY DEVELOP A POLICE SCHOOL DIVERSION PROGRAM? Children can’t learn if they don’t feel safe. The zero tolerance policy enforced in the SDP from 2002 to 2011 mandated predetermined punishments can’t teach effectively if there are disruptions, for certain school infractions, regardless of the reasons for the behavior. For example, possession of Teachers anything that could conceivably be used as a weapon was punished with arrest. It didn’t matter whether the distractions, or threats against them or their students. “weapon” was a pair of scissors mistakenly left in a backpack or a loaded gun brought to school on purpose. Yet zero tolerance policies—the Then, in spring 2014, the Philadelphia Within the first year of the Diversion The one-size fits all response of zero Furthermore, recent census data Surveys find a disturbing percentage safety procedures used for decades by Police Department and the City’s Program, not only did the number of tolerance policies disregards the shows that more than 1/3 of all of Philadelphia students with suicidal schools around the nation, including Department of Human Services arrests drop by 54%, but there were fact that thousands of students in youth in Philadelphia live in poverty. thoughts (14.1 percent) and actions 1,051 fewer behavioral incidents in in Philadelphia—have hurt more partnered with the SDP to bring a the SDP have been deeply affected As a result, many children come to (11.2 percent). SDP schools. by traumatic events in their homes school with heightened fight or flight than they have helped. Thousands new Police School Diversion Program Such children need to feel supported or neighborhoods. Many have responses, putting them on edge and of students were pushed into the to the schools. As an alternative 8000 and safe in a positive school setting, experienced poverty, hunger, unstable increasing perceptions of threat, juvenile justice system, creating a to arrest, professionals intervene not pushed away, isolated, and family lives, and street violence. One feelings that may be accompanied veritable “school-to-prison pipeline.” with a range of social services rejected. Research now shows that estimate from the Philadelphia-based by a sense of hopelessness. These There were nearly 1,600 school-based and counseling for students—and, seeking to prevent misbehavior with 7000 Education Law Center indicated children face very real threats in their arrests in Philadelphia during the crucially, their parents or caregivers— the threat of serious consequences that two out of every three of neighborhoods, which may lead them 2013–2014 school year. when children first get into trouble. may lead to children’s fear and Collaborating partners include Philadelphia’s 142,000 public school to bring pepper spray, for example, so But while the number of arrests isolation, causing more acting out. Family Court, the District Attorney’s students have experienced trauma. that they can feel safe on their way to skyrocketed, the number of 6000 Office, the Department of Behavioral and from school. behavioral incidents did not go down. Health, and the Defender Association As in other cities, Philadelphia’s of Philadelphia. policies also resulted in troubling In 2014–2015, its first academic 5000 racial disparities, with African- year, the Police School Diversion American males arrested at higher 2 out of 3 students have experienced trauma: Philadelphia Youth Risk Behaviors Survey, 2011 Program already demonstrated great rates for similar behaviors and success: arrests are down 54 percent, confronted with harsher disciplinary 4000 94,667 students 31.5% 14.1% 11.2% and hundreds of young people and S actions, such as suspension and FELT SAD OR SERIOUSLY ATTEMPTED their families have been afforded an HOPELESS CONSIDERED SUICIDE expulsion, than students from opportunity to turn their lives around. every day for SUICIDE other backgrounds. two weeks in a row INCIDENT Importantly, a reduction in the 3000 In 2012, the School District of number of school-based behavioral Philadelphia (SDP) ended its incidents accompanied this reduction zero tolerance policy in favor of a in arrest rates in Philadelphia disciplinary code that emphasized a schools—there were 1,051 fewer 2000 more individualized approach, giving behavioral incidents than in the principals and staff more discretion in previous school year. their responses to misbehavior. Principals, staff, and SDP police 1000 officers are essential to making this S potential model successful. 2 ARREST 3 0 2013-14 2014-15 SENTENCING PRIVACY A juvenile record for certain HOW DOES THE POLICE SCHOOL DIVERSION PROGRAM WORK? Certain juvenile IMMIGRATION offenses can significantly affect records and juvenile A juvenile record sentencing for a criminal The Police School Diversion Program is open to students who are at least ten years old, who have no court proceedings are can affect a child’s EXPULSION conviction as an adult. open and available immigration status. previous delinquency adjudications and are not currently under juvenile probation supervision, and who are to the public. A child may be expelled from school for certain offenses, and involved in low-level summary or misdemeanor delinquent offenses, such as marijuana possession, fighting, information about delinquency disruptions, graffiti, bullying, threats, or possession of certain items that could be used as weapons. MILITARY judgments will be sent to the A juvenile arrest may next school in which he or Participation in the Police School With the Police School Diversion DHS IPS Providers and their service affect a young person’s she enrolls. ability to enlist in the Diversion Program is not available Program, qualifying students are areas include: West/South West military. to students accused of high-level not arrested, but rather diverted to Overbrook; South Philadelphia; DNA offenses, such as drug dealing, gun prevention services to meet their Germantown/Mt. Airy; North A child adjudicated of $ possession, sexual assault, or arson. underlying needs. Philadelphia; Kensington/Frankford; FINES a felony offense and some The child must pay fines misdemeanor offenses is Administering the Police School DHS’s community-based Intensive and Northeast Philadelphia. and court costs and may CONSEQUENCES required to submit a DNA Diversion Program is a cooperative Prevention Services (IPS) providers be required to pay OF A sample to the State effort by Philadelphia’s child-serving work with the youth and families restitution. DNA Data Base. JUVENILE ARREST agencies, including principals, to prevent truancy, to steer youth teachers, and staff from Philadelphia’s away from delinquency by offering ONE STUDENT’S STORY 214 public schools; the Philadelphia positive role models, improve school In the fall of 2014, an academically gifted A JUVENILE RECORD DOES NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN A CHILD TURNS 18 OR 21 Police Department (PPD), including performance, enhance life and social 17-year-old North Philadelphia girl was 320 SDP police officers and 84 skills and in many cases help caught with a small amount of marijuana in her school backpack—and she could Consider the experience of being Being arrested can make it even Further, the Police School Diversion specially trained PPD school police family relationships through have been arrested for drug possession. arrested in school: students are more difficult for children to cope Program aligns with Philadelphia’s officers; the Juvenile Justice Services individual/family counseling and Had she entered the justice system as a handcuffed, removed from school, with the challenges they already participation in President Obama’s Division of the City’s Department constructive activities. result, she would have been torn from her transported to the police station, face. Being removed from school My Brother’s Keeper Initiative which of Human Services, including family and community, and might have fingerprinted, photographed, and increases students’ chances of ensures that boys and young men of social workers and staff, as well as been damaged beyond repair. held for processing for up to six hours. dropping out or failing to graduate on color, who are disproportionately community-based service providers; But she did not enter the system. The The trauma of the arrest process can time—and increases the risk of future affected by harsh disciplinary and Philadelphia’s other juvenile Philadelphia Police Department school schools be devastating, and the collateral delinquent behaviors. Missing school practices, are supported and provided justice system agencies. lic officer and a dedicated social worker at ub consequences of a juvenile record can weakens academic performance and, the opportunity to succeed. p the Department of Human Services saw that this girl had been struggling as her extend into adulthood, potentially often, these misbehaving students 4 By providing community-based A COOPERATIVE 1 parents went through a rocky divorce. affecting future employment and are the very ones who are already c 2 social services to students as an EFFORT o The social worker understood how she creating other obstacles to success. struggling academically. Students m could be led into thinking that marijuana alternative to arrest, the Police m Multiple entities miss the positive adult guidance that u While a juvenile arrest is not equal to School Diversion Program can would ease her anguish. school provides. And an arrest can work together n i an adult conviction, it is often treated address young people’s needs to ensure the t So the social worker, along with a school undermine students’ trust in adults. y - district police officer and Philadelphia like one. Contrary to what most while keeping them out of the success of the b j a u Police Department school officers, Police School s people believe, a juvenile record does The need for trauma-informed justice system, thereby increasing v e d e enrolled the girl in the Philadelphia Police not disappear when a child turns 18 or programs that take into account the their chances of staying in school Diversion Program.