The Los Angeles Unified School District has announced new policies aimed at reducing arrest rates on campus. This school year, LAUSD police will no longer issue citations for most on-campus fights and other minor infractions like vandalism or cigarettes.
Supporters say schools disproportionately target minority students for minor rule-breaking, and that young kids end up funneled into the juvenile court system rather than being dealt with on campus. Superintendant John Deasy supports the policy, saying the district is about graduation, not incarceration.
But how will school officials ensure that students and teachers stay safe, and do they have the resources to deal with students who get into trouble?