Title: School Undercover Police Operations - Benaim

Recommendation:

I recommend that we establish criteria when a student is charged as an adult versus a juvenile.  I also recommend that we enter into a dialogue with the State Attorney's office regarding this issue as soon as possible if these undercover operations are to continue.

Description:

During this school year, undercover police operations detected drug involvement by our youth on School District campuses.  While I do agree with the need for this type of activity in order to keep our schools drug free, I do not agree with the indiscriminate charging of our students as adult criminals.  Although there are many situations where adult charges are appropriate, we must recognize that many students are first time offenders.  By charging these youth as adults, we have essentially ended the possibility of them having careers in law, medicine, the military, or many of the jobs that we prepare them for in our career academies.

Many of our children are salvageable the first time they cross the line and break the law.  There may be more extenuating circumstances where students are salvageable even beyond a first offense.

I cannot support the continued use of undercover police operations on School District of Palm Beach County campuses if the students are charged as adults indiscriminately. 

Financial Impact:
N/A

For Additional Information, contact:
Wanda Morelli