http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-1...nal-6th-graderDiagnosed as autistic, the sixth-grader was being scolded for misbehavior one day and kicked a trash can at Linkhorne Middle School in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A police officer assigned to the school witnessed the tantrum, and filed a disorderly conduct charge against the sixth grader in juvenile court. Just weeks later, in November, Kayleb, who is African-American, disobeyed a new rule — this one just for him — that he wait while other kids left class. The principal sent the same school officer to get him.
“He grabbed me and tried to take me to the office,” said Kayleb, a small, bespectacled boy who enjoys science. “I started pushing him away. He slammed me down, and then he handcuffed me.”
In an incident report, a teacher confirmed that the officer spoke to Kayleb, then grabbed him around the chest, and that Kayleb cursed and struggled. School officials won’t comment on this case, but say that police in schools are crucial to providing a safe atmosphere and protecting against outside threats.
There is so much wrong with this that just typifies the problem with the american judicial system/police force.
1. Charging an 11 year old. I was convinced there was some statute/constitutional precept which prevents something so stupid. Regardless of what he did, an 11 year old is not fully accountable for their actions. They are, of course up to a certain point but they should not be tried. They should be evaluated, their parents should be evaluated and the state should go from there as to do what to do with them. The kid has autism ffs, how insensitive can you be?
2. Charging someone for kicking over a trash can. Goes without saying how f*cked up this one is.
3. Tyrannizing and physically domineering the child. Get f*cked is this ever an appropriate response to anyone kicking over a bin or getting upset, let alone a child... with autism! To first charge the child is outrageous but then to assault someone with autism who fundamentally cannot fully appreciate social contracts is disgusting.
4. I hate to pull the race card but this would not have happened if the kid was white. I hate to say it but It's true. It would be very atypical for a white child to receive this treatment. Not only do the police force demonize minorities but they perpetuate and wage an almost race war rather than addressing any grassroots socio-economic problems.
5.
but say that police in schools are crucial to providing a safe atmosphere and protecting against outside threats.
This is an elementary school.. Absolutely outrageous. Don't waste the state's resources inappropriately first of all. Don't set a precedent for the police force acting around children when there is no genuine threat.