NCJ Number
192685
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 7 Issue: 6 Dated: December/January 2002 Pages: 1,12
Editor(s)
Lisa R. Lipman
Date Published
2002
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the rising use of school suspensions at a time when school related crime is declining.
Abstract
Despite the occurrence of a very small number of high profile violent crimes, virtually every source of national data indicates that school based crime is not increasing, but has remained stable or declined in recent years. A handful of high profile but exceedingly rare school shootings has dominated media coverage of the school crime issue, and parents greatly overestimate the likelihood of a school shooting occurring in their community. Partly in response to these perceived risks and fears, many schools have mandated the use of suspension or expulsion for certain types of misbehavior. The use of such "zero tolerance" policies has been bolstered by Federal legislation concerning the topic. Use of school suspension and expulsion almost doubled during the period 1974 to 1998. However, the liberal use of suspension and expulsion does not appear to have reduced levels of school crime. In addition, school suspension negatively affects students and has a disproportionate impact on minority students. The American Bar Association opposes zero tolerance, claiming that it "teaches children nothing about fairness and often creates injustice."