PCJJC Report to the School Board on School
Related Arrests
4Q 2006-7
Superintendent Wilcox and members of the Pinellas County School Board:
This “report card” measures the success of Pinellas County public schools in reducing the number of youth on the “schoolhouse-to-jailhouse track”. The report, prepared by the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council, covers the 4th quarter of the 2006-7 school year. The Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center (PJAC) supplied the data. The data shows that law enforcement officers, over the past three school years, applied 111 different charges in school-related incidents. The Council placed these charges into seven categories: Battery, Behavior, Drugs, Theft, Trespass, Weapons and Other. There are only two charges in the Behavior category: disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment. The Council refers to these as “childhood misbehaviors.” [Table 1]
The 4th quarter results for the 2006-7 school year show a 30% drop in the number of all school-related charges to 172 from 246 the previous quarter. Similarly, the number of “behavior” charges in the 4th quarter (52 counts) is down 25% over the 3rd quarter (69 counts). This continues the downward trend in school-related charges over the past three school years. [Chart 1]
There was a total of 765 counts of school-related charges for the 2006-7 school year. This number is down 18% from the 2005-6 school year (934 counts) and 38% from the 2004-5 school year (1231 counts). Furthermore, the number of “behavior” charges (disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment) in the 2006-7 school year (221) is down 23% from the 2005-6 school year (286) and 48% from the 2004-5 school year (421). [Chart 2]
When we look at the last three school years (2004-5 through 2006-7), charges were levied a total of 2930 times. Charges applied for disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment were used 928 times. In other words, 32% of all charges were for behavior issues, what the Council often refers to as “childhood misbehavior.” These are not charges for weapons, drugs, battery, theft, etc. [Chart 3]
In January 2006, the Council asked Pinellas County School Superintendent Wilcox and the School Board for a moratorium on school-related charges for disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment. You did not consider a moratorium, but you have worked to reduce the number of times those charges are used. In so doing, you have reduced all school-related charges.
The Council looked at all school-related charges provided by the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center (PJAC) in its Quarterly Reports on School-Related Charges. Seven schools accounted for one-third of all the charges levied over the past three school years. The schools are listed, below, in descending order, by rank, according to the total charges recorded:
| School | Total Counts |
||
| Oak Park Middle | 159 | ||
| Bayside High | 148 | ||
| Richard L. Sanders ESE | 143 | ||
| Pinellas Park High | 139 | ||
| Dixie Hollins High | 130 | ||
| Boca Ciega High | 125 | ||
| Clearwater High | 117 |
Superintendent Wilcox may choose to concentrate on these schools to get them out of their persistent position in the top ten. Of particular interest is Richard L. Sanders ESE. This school, like the others on the list, has been in the top ten schools, for school-related charges, in each of the past three school years. A closer look at this school reveals that 38% of their charges were for behavioral issues (disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment). This is a school where youth are sent who have been identified with behavioral issues. Yet here, where we know they have difficulties; we still resort to filing charges against them for “misbehaving.”
Apparently, there are students who cannot be dealt with in any other way than by using law enforcement and filing charges. A case in point is charges at elementary schools. In 2005, Superintendent Wilcox halted the use of police in elementary schools. However, according to the PJAC data, in the school year just ended, there were charges applied to students at Gulf Beaches Elementary, Northwest Elementary and South Ward Elementary schools. The charges were for assault, drugs and weapons. Clearly, these serious charges are disturbing. However, for youth in Elementary school, there must be alternatives to arrest and the indelible arrest record.
In closing, the Council commends Pinellas County School Superintendent Wilcox, the School Board and your partners for the continued decline in school-related arrests. Based on the information we have, Pinellas County schools are doing their part to keep youth off the “schoolhouse-to-jailhouse track.”
Dave Plyer, Chair
Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council
727.799.1431
www.PinellasJJC.org
Chart 1: Pinellas County schools show a steady decline in school-related charges…
Chart 2: School-related counts continue to decline…
Chart 3: Misbehavior is the largest category of school-related charges…
Table 1: PCJJC-defined Categories and their Charges (School Years 2004-5 - 2006-7)
|
Category |
Charge |
Count |
|
|
Aggravated Battery |
21 |
||
|
|
Attempted Strong Arm Robbery |
1 |
|
|
|
Battery |
343 |
|
|
|
Battery - Felony |
21 |
|
|
|
Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer/Fire Fighter |
32 |
|
|
|
Battery on Code Enforcement Official |
3 |
|
|
|
Battery on Commitment Facility Staff |
2 |
|
|
|
Battery on HRS Intake Official |
2 |
|
|
|
Battery on Person 65 Years or Older |
1 |
|
|
|
Battery on School Official |
166 |
|
|
|
Culpable Negligence - Actual Injury |
1 |
|
|
|
Domestic Battery |
4 |
|
|
|
Battery Total |
|
597 |
|
Disorderly Conduct |
523 |
||
|
|
Disruption of School Environment |
405 |
|
|
|
Behavior Total |
|
928 |
|
Alcoholic Beverage - Possession By a Minor |
1 |
||
|
|
Delivery of Marijuana |
1 |
|
|
|
Poss. Of Drug Without Prescription |
12 |
|
|
|
Possession Alcoholic Beverage W/O Payment of Tax |
1 |
|
|
|
Possession of Alcohol |
3 |
|
|
|
Possession of C/S w/intent to sell w/in 1000ft. of a School |
4 |
|
|
|
Possession of Cannabis W/ Intent to Sell |
5 |
|
|
|
Possession of Cocaine |
8 |
|
|
|
Possession of Cocaine W/ Intent to Sell |
1 |
|
|
|
Possession of Controlled Substance |
24 |
|
|
|
Possession of Controlled Substance Paraphernalia |
3 |
|
|
|
Possession of Crack Cocaine |
6 |
|
|
|
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia |
56 |
|
|
|
Possession of Imitation Controlled Substance |
1 |
|
|
|
Possession of Marijuana - +20 Grams |
8 |
|
|
|
Possession of Marijuana - Less Than 20 Grams |
203 |
|
|
|
Possession of Other 893 Drugs |
3 |
|
|
|
Possession of Tobacco |
3 |
|
|
|
Sale & Possession on School Campus |
11 |
|
|
|
Sale Of Marijuana |
3 |
|
|
|
Sale Of Other Unlisted 893 Drugs |
3 |
|
|
|
Trafficking in illegal Drugs +28 Grams |
1 |
|
|
|
Trafficking in Illegal Drugs +4 Grams |
1 |
|
|
|
Drugs Total |
|
362 |
|
Accessory After the Fact |
1 |
||
|
|
Activating a Fire Extinguisher |
5 |
|
|
|
Affray |
1 |
|
|
|
Aggravated Assault - Intent to Commit Felony |
7 |
|
|
|
Arson - Dwellings Occupied or Not |
3 |
|
|
|
Arson - Occup Struc or Bldg Assume to be Occup/Jail, Hospital |
3 |
|
|
|
Assault |
6 |
|
|
|
Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer/Fire Fighter |
5 |
|
|
|
Assault on School Employee |
12 |
|
|
|
Breach of Peace |
1 |
|
|
|
Disposing Of Person Property Under Lien |
1 |
|
|
|
Exposure of Sexual Organs |
1 |
|
|
|
False Bomb Report |
5 |
|
|
|
False Fire Alarm |
9 |
|
|
|
False Imprisonment |
4 |
|
|
|
False Reports |
1 |
|
|
|
Filing False Police Report |
1 |
|
|
|
Interference With Custody |
1 |
|
|
|
Lewd And Lascivious Act On A Minor 16 Or Younger |
11 |
|
|
|
Lewd And Lascivious Behavior |
2 |
|
|
|
Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition Vic.<18 |
4 |
|
|
|
Loitering Or Prowling |
7 |
|
|
|
Obstruction |
32 |
|
|
|
Order - PUO - Absconding |
2 |
|
|
|
Order - PUO - FTA |
10 |
|
|
|
Order - PUO - Violation of Community Control |
1 |
|
|
|
Other (Record in narrative box) |
13 |
|
|
|
Perjury - Contradictory Statements |
1 |
|
|
|
Possession of Burglary Tools |
2 |
|
|
|
Possession W/ Intent to Sell Obscene Material |
1 |
|
|
|
Resisting Arrest With Violence |
27 |
|
|
|
Resisting Without Violence |
82 |
|
|
|
Stalking |
1 |
|
|
|
Tampering With Evidence |
1 |
|
|
|
Tampering With Witness |
4 |
|
|
|
Violation of Conditional Release |
8 |
|
|
|
Violation of Probation |
101 |
|
|
|
Written Threats |
1 |
|
|
|
Other Total |
|
378 |
|
Burglary - Vehicle |
3 |
||
|
|
Burglary (Assaults or Carries Weapon) |
1 |
|
|
|
Burglary (Dwelling Not Occupied or Structure Occupied) |
2 |
|
|
|
Burglary (Non-Dwelling or Conveyance/Structure Occupied) |
16 |
|
|
|
Burglary (Occupied Dwelling) |
1 |
|
|
|
Commercial Burglary |
1 |
|
|
|
Criminal Mischief - $200 - $1000 Damage |
13 |
|
|
|
Criminal Mischief - $200 - Or Less Damage |
20 |
|
|
|
Criminal Mischief - Over $1000 Damage |
8 |
|
|
|
Dealing In Stolen Property |
2 |
|
|
|
Grand Larceny $300 |
18 |
|
|
|
Grand Theft (1st Degree Grand Theft Attempted) |
1 |
|
|
|
Grand Theft (2nd Degree Grand Theft) |
2 |
|
|
|
Grand Theft Auto |
7 |
|
|
|
Petit Theft |
55 |
|
|
|
Possession of Stolen Property |
2 |
|
|
|
Retail Theft |
2 |
|
|
|
Robbery - (Strong Arm) |
13 |
|
|
|
Robbery by Sudden Snatching |
5 |
|
|
|
Theft Of Communication Services - Less Than $100 |
2 |
|
|
|
Theft Over $100,000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Worthless Check +$50 |
1 |
|
|
|
Theft Total |
|
176 |
|
Trespass - Occupied Structure |
1 |
||
|
|
Trespass - Property Other Than Structure/Convey |
2 |
|
|
|
Trespass - Structure Or Convey |
5 |
|
|
|
Trespass on School Property with Weapon or Firearm |
3 |
|
|
|
Trespassing on School Grounds |
301 |
|
|
|
Trespass Total |
|
312 |
|
Aggravated Assault - Deadly Weapon |
15 |
||
|
|
Aggravated Assault with Firearm |
1 |
|
|
|
Burglary While Armed (structure or conveyance) |
3 |
|
|
|
Carrying A Concealed Weapon |
23 |
|
|
|
Possession of Weapon on School Property |
126 |
|
|
|
Robbery - Weapon |
1 |
|
|
|
Shooting/Throwing Deadly Missile |
2 |
|
|
|
Threat to Throw Destructive Device |
1 |
|
|
|
Throwing a Deadly Missile |
5 |
|
|
|
Weapons Total |
|
177 |
| Grand total of the number of times a charge was used |
|
2930 | |
Note: Page 6 of 8 revised 7/17/07 to reinstate the line
“Poss. Of Drug Without Prescription 12”
left blank in the “Drug” category list. This does not change any total number
~D. Plyer PCJJC
_______________________________________________________________________
The above report was sent by email to Superintendent Wilcox and members of the Pinellas County School Board on July 16, 2007:
from Dave Plyer <d.plyer@gmail.com>
to Clayton Wilcox <Wilcoxc@pcsb.org>,
Carol Cook <cookc@pcsb.org>,
Jane Gallucci <galluccij@pcsb.org>,
Janet Clark <clarkja@pcsb.org>,
Linda Lerner <lernerl@pcsb.org>,
"Mary T. Brown" <brownmaryl@pcsb.org>,
Nancy Bostock <bostockn@pcsb.org>,
Peggy O'Shea <osheap@pcsb.org>
cc Matt Sullivan <sullivanrep@msn.com>,
Cathy Corry <cathycorry@juno.com>
date Jul 16, 2007 10:18 AM
subject PCJJC Report to the School Board on School Related Arrests - 4Q 2006-7
The email was forwarded to all members of the Pinellas County Juvenile Justice Council on July 16, 2007:
from Dave Plyer <d.plyer@gmail.com>
to Beth Richards <bethberta13@yahoo.com>,
Bonnie McClelland <bonnie@suncoastyr.org>,
Brian Pitts <justice2jesus@yahoo.com>,
Bruce Wright <bgcwright@aol.com>,
Cathy Corry <cathycorry@juno.com>,
Dave Plyer <d.plyer@gmail.com>,
Dennis Segall <crysforjustice@hotmail.com>,
Doug Dallier <nadya9drew@yahoo.com>,
Greg Pound <gregandmalissa@juno.com>,
Keith L Estes <kestes2@tampabay.rr.com>,
Matt Sullivan <sullivanrep@msn.com>,
Peter Rodriguez <sevenohnine2001@yahoo.com>,
Seth McCurley <SethMcCurley@yahoo.com>
date Jul 16, 2007 10:53 AM
subject Fwd: PCJJC Report to the School Board on School Related Arrests - 4Q
2006-7