school/court cooperative programs working together to reduce crime and improve education
TRANSCRIPT
Types of Programs
• Alternative to Suspension
• Truancy Prevention
• Information Sharing
• Reporting Center– Alternative to Expulsion – Alternative to Detaining Kids in Juvenile
Detention Center
Alternative To SuspensionWhy?
• Suspension from school means– A Gap in Education– A Punishment of Questionable Value
• Student gets a “vacation”
– Students are Often Unsupervised During Suspension Period
– No Modification of Negative Behavior
Extended Day Programs
• Alternative to out-of school suspension• Allows students to attend their regular classes in
their home school• Student Day is extended
– 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Attendance is Court Ordered
Court Hearing
• School Sends Order to Appear under Signature of Judge– Files Affidavit of Service
• Petition for Enforcement of School Rules– Sent to parent and filed with Court
• School Prepares Court Order– Sets hearing date
How is a Student Referred?
• Referred by the Principal• Reasons:
– Repeated or chronic behavior problems• Hall misconduct, late to school, unserved detentions,
disruptive classroom behavior
– Non-Physical offenses that would result in automatic suspension
• Theft, vandalism, possession of electronic device, insubordination, gambling
– Students Who Do Not Serve In House Assignments Successfully
Who Attends the Hearing
• Student• Parents• Principal or Assistant Principal• Sometimes…
– Other agencies involved with family – Translator
What Information Does the Judge Have?
• Petition
• School Disciplinary Record
• Grades
• Family Court Information Sheet– Contains prior court involvement of
Family Members
Results…
Year School Totals Year Totals
1996-1997 Boston 348
Kesling 306 654
1997-1998 Boston 59
Kesling 35 94
2002-2003 Boston 81
Kesling 79 160
LaPorte Community Schools Suspensions
“John”• Entrance Date 10/17/02• Reason for Placement
– Low credits– Truancies– Frequent In School
suspensions
• Goals– To Stay Awake– Control Anger– Pass My Classes
• Passing less than half of classes
• Exit Date 3/14/03• After Completion
– Steadily Increasing Credits– Zero Truancies– No In School Suspensions
• Goals– Monitor sheets indicate on
task, working hard– Behavior no longer a major
issue– Passed all classes,
increased grade point and class rank significantly
Project MAP
• Michigan City Area Schools, Grades 6-8
• Mainly Urban School District
• High Suspension and Expulsion Rate
• Funding:– Local Foundations
• Want to see problem addressed
– Mayor of Michigan City – Riverboat Funds
Truancy Prevention
Active in both Michigan City and LaPorteWho Attends?
-Parent and student if in 5th grade and above
-County attendance officers
-School principal
-Investigator from Child Protective Services
-Probation officer if Middle School student
Goals of Project Attend
• Group discussion of the attendance problem
• Identify reasons for non-attendance• Enter into contract to improve situation• Inform parent and child of legal
consequences of not attending school• Put services into place if necessary• Open up communication between the
family and the school
Day Reporting
• Alternative to Expulsion
• Located on Grounds of Juvenile Services Center in Portable Classroom
• Joint Effort Schools and Circuit Court, Juvenile Services Center
• First Students - April 26, 2004
Staff
• One Youth Specialist Worker
• One Certified Teacher
– Working in conjunction with Juvenile Services Center educational staff
• Resources of Juvenile Services Center
Cooperative Programs
Alternative to Expulsion(Day Reporting – Grades 6-8)
Alternative to Expulsion(Day Reporting – Grades 6-8)
Alternative to Suspension(Project ED – Grades 7-12 LPCSC)(Project MAP – Grades 6-8 MCAS)
Alternative to Suspension(Project ED – Grades 7-12 LPCSC)(Project MAP – Grades 6-8 MCAS)
Project Attend(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)
Project Attend(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)
Goal: Keeping Kids In School
Computerized Information SharingPart of a Commputerized Court Docketing
System
Schools, Courts, Office of Family and Children, Probation, Law Enforcement, Juvenile Services Center
Pilot Program• Communities in Schools • LaPorte Community Schools
• Michigan City Area Schools
• Office of Family and Children
Serious Habitual Juvenile Comprehensive Action Program
Comprehensive and Cooperative case management system that enables the
juvenile justice system to focus informed attention on youth who repeatedly commit
serious crimes.
Courts Can Help
• Keep Kids in School• Keep Kids Off the Street• Decrease likelihood of Contact
With Criminal Justice System
Joan McCormickDirector of Special Education
[email protected] Building
408 South Carroll AvenueMichigan City, IN
219-873-2000
Kathleen LangLaPorte Circuit Court
813 Lincolnway, Suite 303
LaPorte, IN 46350
219-362-8610 ext. 512
Educational Services Center1921 A Street
LaPorte, Indiana 46350
Phone: 219-362-7056
Superintendent: Dr. Kenneth [email protected]
Assistant Superintendent :Dr. Dennis [email protected]