FILE:  JDG

Cf:  JD, JDD, JDE

ZERO TOLERANCE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM

A top priority of the Assumption Parish School Board is to provide a physical and psychologically safe environment for students.  Discipline records reflect a significant increase in the number of student fights in recent years.  Administrators and teachers report that student fighting has become more violent in nature and has on occasion led to serious injuries.

The Assumption Parish School Board requires student aggressors in grades five, and ten years of age and above be arrested by law enforcement officers when school officials determine that a fight has occurred on campus, at extra-curricular activities, on school buses, and at school bus stops.  Students reasonably concluded to be acting in self-defense may not be disciplined.

The Zero Tolerance policy is preventive in nature, and is intended to ensure that Assumption Parish Public Schools will be a safe haven for all students.  Parents can be assured that every precaution will be taken to keep their children safe, and to prevent violent acts from occurring at our schools.

RATIONALE

Fighting is disruptive to the school climate and causes students to feel physically and psychologically threatened.  Studies show that the majority of students who bring weapons to school do so to defend themselves.  School administrators believe students who feel safe are less likely to bring weapons to school.  Guns, knives, and other weapons are clearly hazards to a safe learning environment and the possibility that such items will be brought to school must be significantly reduced.

1. Communication Between Law Enforcement Officials and the Schools:

1. • The Principal or Assistant Principal of the school will contact the appropriate law enforcement officials in their area when a school disturbance involves physical fighting, drugs, and/or weapons.
      

   • Law enforcement officials will randomly visit the schools at various times in their area to make their presence known, to encourage a decrease in fighting, and to make known the Zero Tolerance Violence Prevention Program.

2. Every fight on campus, at extra-curricular activities, on school buses and at school bus stops will result in an arrest:
   
   Students will be instructed that they must avoid fighting and that the correct procedure is to report bullying or other hostile behavior against them to teachers or administrators.  Once a physical fight takes place, as determined by the Principal (or designee), appropriate law enforcement officials will be called, if deemed necessary.  Each participant in the fight will be arrested, and handcuffed (if deemed necessary), and taken into custody, unless it can be established by the Principal or designee that one or more students were the sole aggressor(s) and that the other involved student(s) acted only in self-defense.  Thereafter, attempts will immediately be made to contact the parents.
   
   Procedures:

1. • The law enforcement officials usually will not be called to break up a fight.  They will be called once the situation is under control and it is evident that a physical fight has occurred.
      

   • In the event of an arrest, all procedures of the appropriate law enforcement agency will be followed including handcuffing (if deemed necessary) inside the building.
      

   • The school will conduct its own investigation; school and Assumption Parish rules and regulations regarding suspensions and expulsions will be enforced.
      

   • If there is a disagreement among the students involved, the law enforcement officials and school administrators will conduct an investigation including taking depositions from witnesses.

3. Bond has been pre-set by judges as follows:
   
   The bond for disturbing the peace by fighting on campus, at extra-curricular activities, on school buses, and at school bus stops, will be $250.  Parents will be required to post a cash bond, or property bond.  Parents will be encouraged to have the child reimburse the money used for the bond.
    

4. Court Sentencing:
   
   Each student booked into the Juvenile Center has the option of entering the Diversion Program or going to Juvenile Court.
   
   Diversion Program
   
   Parents or guardians shall pay $100 to enter the program.  The program shall consist of a $250 cash/property bond, conflict resolution classes, and eight (8) hours of community work at a designated place.  If the student meets all components of the program, the Judge will return $150 or release the property bond to the parent.  If the components are not met, the student shall be referred to Juvenile Court.
   
   Juvenile Court
   
   Disposition of cases referred to Juvenile Court shall be one of the following:

1. 1. Case dismissed.  Bond refunded.
       

   2. Case dismissed.  Bond or portion thereof paid as restitution to School Board for actual damages caused by fighting.
       

   3. Case referred to Court for hearing on criminal charges after it has been determined that the contract has not been fulfilled.  Sentenced by judge as in any other case, including, but not limited to, detention in a juvenile facility, community service, counseling, payment of restitution to victims and to school, fines, etc.

5. Conflict Resolution:
   
   As a special condition of the bond, each person arrested will be required to attend conflict resolution sessions at the Assumption Parish Courthouse in Napoleonville for two (2) Saturdays following the arrest.  The facilitator of the conflict resolution sessions will be Assumption Parish Sheriff's office personnel specifically trained in conflict resolution.  Sessions will be two (2) hours long.  Parents will be required to attend and participate in the final session so that children may discuss the solution reached and possible referrals to other sources.  All sessions will be closed, unless prior approval from the facilitator is arranged.
    

6. Suspensions:
   
   Each of the student aggressors will be suspended and/or expelled from school.  The suspension or expulsion is appealable according to established School Board policies already in effect.  (Law enforcement procedures are not subject to appeal through the School Board.)

PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT ARREST FOR FIGHTING

1. If there is an injury when a fight occurs, appropriate first aid will be administered.  Parents/guardians will be notified.
    

2. School administrators will investigate the fight by speaking and taking written statements from witnesses and students involved in fighting.
    

3. Administrator notifies secretary when to call law enforcement officer.
    

4. Law enforcement officer comes to school and determines from the investigation that fight has occurred.  Students involved in the fight are handcuffed (if deemed necessary) and taken from school.
    

5. Parents/guardians are notified of the school's decision as a result of the fight and the consequences.
    

6. School decision on the consequences of a fight is independent of the action taken by the law enforcement officer.

Revised:  September, 1997

Adopted:  March 6, 2002

Revised:  June, 2007

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:223, 17:224, 17:416, 17:416.1

Board minutes, 8-7-96, 3-6-02

Assumption Parish School Board