Justice Speaks: March 17, 2010

From Jungle Gyms to Jail Cells: Policing in the Schools

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
12:50–1:50 p.m.
Room W320

Angela Jones, School to Prison Pipeline Coordinator, NYCLU
Johanna Miller, Policy Counsel, NYCLU

Moderated by Deborah N. Archer, Professor of Law, New York Law School

In March of 2007, the New York Civil Liberties Union published an in-depth report focused on the problems created by over-policing in the public schools. Three years later, despite overwhelming evidence that excessive police presence creates a hostile environment that significantly undermines student learning and the authority of teachers and administrators, little has been done to address the problem. Today, the NYPD’s School Safety Division is the fifth largest police force in the country, zero-tolerance policies give students no opportunity to learn from their mistakes, and schools rely on law enforcement, rather than educators, to address student misconduct.

Our speakers will discuss the practice of over-policing in the public schools and the disproportionate impact it has on youth of color and youth with disabilities. They will also address the status of current litigation challenging these practices as well as the importance of supporting the “Student Safety Act,” which aims to provide increased transparency and accountability to school security practices and their impact on the educational environment.

Lunch will be served! Please arrive early.
RSVP to: jac@nyls.edu