Zero tolerance in schools

Zero tolerance policies in schools are in the news again with a February 18 CNN report about a 12-year-old girl removed in shackles from a New York City public school for drawing on her desk.

The report includes other examples that demonstrate that, in the words of one person quoted in the article,  “There is zero intelligence when you start applying zero tolerance across the board…”

Girl’s arrest for doodling raises concerns about
zero tolerance

By Stephanie Chen, CNN

February 18, 2010 10:22 a.m. EST

(CNN) — There was no profanity, no hate. Just the words, “I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :)” scrawled on the classroom desk with a green marker.

Alexa Gonzalez, an outgoing 12-year-old who likes to dance and draw, expected a lecture or maybe detention for her doodles earlier this month. Instead, the principal of the Junior High School in Forest Hills, New York, called police, and the seventh-grader was taken across the street to the police precinct. . . .

Read the full article.

Campaign for Youth Justice Training

The Campaign for Youth Justice will hold a training for families interested in criminal and juvenile justice reform in Baltimore May 25 – 27

Costs, including travel and lodging, will be covered for selected participants.
Applications are due March 15. Learn more about the training and the application process here

Globe continues focus on Probation

The Boston Globe continued its focus on the Probation Department with an editorial on February 5 calling for the legislature to eliminate the unlimited term of the Commissioner of Probation:

Probation office needs fixing, not commissioner for life

EDITORIAL February 5, 2010

STATE PROBATION Commissioner John J. O’Brien is untouchable. Insulated by an unlimited term and allergic to scrutiny, he is the new symbol of unaccountability in Massachusetts.