CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A new policy at Chicago Public Schools says if it’s not an emergency, don’t call the cops.
Chicago Public Schools officials don’t want staff to call the police, or even the school resource officer, on students unless it’s an emergency when there are “immediate threats of danger or imminent harm". Examples include use or possession of a gun or other weapon, a bomb threat, arson, or a threat or act of physical violence that is “unable to be safely de-escalated by school safety officers and support staff."
The new policy follows continued calls for de-escalation and restorative justice by advocates for police-free schools.
According to the district’s revised code of conduct, if the cops are called, school staff will need to tell students their rights before any interactions with police.
It also states arrests should be avoided on school grounds whenever possible.
“To prevent traumatic impacts of police arrest for children and their families, school administrators should prioritize a trauma-responsive behavioral health approach that focuses on de-escalation and restorative, mental health intervention based on student needs before considering police involvement,” the new policy read.
Meantime, dozens of schools will vote over the next few weeks on whether to remove school officers and replace them with alternative safety plans, the Sun-Times reported.
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