LOS ANGELES — A new partnership among the city of Los Angeles, police and school officials aims to move away from zero tolerance policies and instead refer students to services that will help them address their academic problems.
Officials at the Los Angeles County Probation Department are launching alternative programs to keep students out of the court system and provide them with counseling, tutoring and other community services, the Los Angeles Times reports. The change reflects growing awareness that responding to minor offenses with police action does not make campuses safer, and alienates struggling students.
School police data shows that 33,800 citations were issued from 2009 to 2011 — some to students as young as 7. Those citations were mostly for truancy, disturbing the peace and tobacco possession.
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