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In February of 2005, Bronx school Principal Michael Soguero was arrested for trying to prevent a police officer from arresting a student he thought should be disciplined by the school. Throughout the US, city police are dispatched to public schools in response to reports of violence but this form of policing brings with it serious questions, including which student acts merit criminal charges. A white paper, released yesterday by the Racial Justice Program of the American Civil Liberties Union examines the perils of school policing and argues that new guidelines are needed to ensure that policing creates a safer school environment. The authors contend that when officers’ roles, student rights, and school policy are not explicitly outlined, students, teachers, administrators, and the justice system may suffer. They cite the negative impact of in-school arrests on the students and the school community, and show how students of color and students with disabilities are “disproportionately represented among those arrested or referred to court.” Additionally, the report demands strict accountability and transparency, special officer training, and recommends expanding non-punitive approaches.

GUEST: Catherine Kim, co-author of the report, Policing in Schools, and staff attorney with the ACLU’s racial justice program.

Find out more at www.aclu.org/racialjustice.