Brighter futures
Officials commend school district’s offender program
Broward County Public Schools is nowworking on getting the support of local bodies for a program that ensures that Broward County school students who commit minor offenses on school campuses stay out of the criminal justice system.
At a recent workshop, Lauderhill city officials were in favor of the city supporting the Promise Program, which was introduced by the school district three years ago in response to the high number of school related arrests. The Broward Sheriff’s Office, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach and Broward County Chiefs of Police Association have also pledged support for the program.
Under the program, students accused of non-violent misdemeanors such as theft, alcohol related incidents, vandalism, possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and trespassing will not be arrested but given a second chance. The program focuses on intervention, thus helping the student avoid a criminal record and make better choices in life.
Thirteen non-violent misdemeanors come under the purview of the program. “Much of these acts are everyday misbehavior that we see in our schools,” said Michaelle Pope, executive director of the district’s student support initiatives. “We decided that we will not criminalize our children in re--
sponse to these behaviors. They will get the support services they need to change their behavior.”
The program offers support, counseling and mentoring to students who commit non-violent infractions. “There are three levels of intervention,” said Pope. “We ensure that the family members of the students are involved in the process. About 4,500 students have gone through the program so far.”
There were 1,062 school-related arrests of students in the county in 2011-2012, the highest in the state. The number has declined significantly since the program was introduced. “We have gone from being the county with the most number of school-related arrests to being seventh from the bottom. An overwhelming majority of students who have been gone through the program don’t repeat the offense.”
Lauderhill already has its own diversion program for first-time adult offenders who are arrested for nonviolent, misdemeanor crimes. “I am glad we are supporting the Promise program; it gives young folks who get involved in something negative another opportunity,” said Commissioner Ken Thurston. “Criminal records follow people for their rest of their life. We do not want a person to suffer life-long for something that he or she did while in school.”
Arun Sivasankaran can be reached at asivasankaran @tribpub.com.