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tmarshconnors · 2 months

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Thin Line Meanings.

Thin Blue Line: This symbol is deeply tied to the role of police officers. It serves as a memorial, honouring those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It represents the duty and responsibility of law enforcement to maintain order in society, often in the face of chaos and danger. The thin blue line is a constant reminder of the fine line officers walk between life and death as they protect and serve their communities.

Thin Red Line: Firefighters embody courage, sacrificing their own safety to protect lives and property. The thin red line symbolizes their unwavering bravery in the face of danger. It represents the sacrifices made by firefighters, often risking injury or death to fulfil their duty. This symbol serves as a tribute to their courage and resilience, acknowledging the challenges they face and the sacrifices they make to keep others safe.

Thin White Line: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel play a crucial role in providing immediate medical care in emergencies. The thin white line distinguishes them, with a blue background representing their connection to law enforcement and a white line symbolizing their unique role in saving lives. It signifies their commitment to providing aid and assistance regardless of the circumstances, often working alongside police and firefighters in high-pressure situations.

Thin Silver Line: Correctional officers work tirelessly to maintain safety and order within correctional facilities. The thin silver line honours their dedication and service, recognizing the challenges they face in a demanding and often dangerous environment. It symbolizes their role in upholding the justice system and safeguarding the community by managing and rehabilitating inmates while ensuring the security of correctional facilities.

Thin Green Line: Federal agents, including Border Patrol agents, Park Rangers, Game Wardens, and Conservation Personnel, serve to protect natural resources, wildlife, and national borders. The thin green line represents their commitment to environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and border security. It symbolizes their role in safeguarding the nation's natural heritage and preserving its ecological balance, often facing challenges in remote and rugged environments.

Thin Yellow Line: Tow truck drivers, security guards, and loss prevention personnel play essential roles in ensuring public safety and security. The thin yellow line acknowledges their contributions, representing their dedication to assisting motorists, protecting property, and preventing theft and loss. It symbolizes their commitment to providing vital services and maintaining safety and security in various settings, from highways to commercial properties.

Thin Orange Line: Search and Rescue Personnel (SAR) undertake hazardous missions to locate and rescue individuals in distress. The thin orange line honours their bravery and selflessness, symbolizing their readiness to respond to emergencies in remote or hazardous environments. It represents their tireless efforts to save lives, often risking their own safety to aid those in need.

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sohanbir · 6 months

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Delta Police deploy personnel due to festival YULETIDE

Delta State's Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass Delta State's Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, has initiated an extensive deployment of police personnel across the region to ensure robust security before, during, and after the yuletide festivities. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, conveyed this directive, emphasizing the deployment of officers by Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders to safeguard citizens. The police focus on highly visible patrols at celebration spots, especially shopping centers, and heightened crime prevention efforts targeting common festive-season crimes. Edafe urged public vigilance, cautioning against becoming easy targets for opportunistic criminals during this period of social gatherings. CP Abass urged community involvement in policing, advocating for active participation to aid law enforcement in combating crime not just during festivities but beyond. The Commissioner extended warm wishes for a peaceful celebration while affirming the Command's preparedness to thwart criminal activities in the state. Speaking on behalf of the dedicated officers and personnel within the Command, the Commissioner of Police extends heartfelt wishes for a joyous and secure celebration to all residents of Delta State. Reassuring the community, the Commissioner asserts the Command's full preparedness for the festivities, pledging to swiftly deal with any individuals harboring criminal intentions, ensuring their swift removal from the state's boundaries. Read the full article

#delta #DeltaState'sCommissionerofPolice #deploy #festival #international #personnel #police #WaleAbass #YULETIDE

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papasmoke · 1 month

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This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA Headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.

This took place while UNRWA and other UN Agencies’ staff were on the compound.

While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage to the outdoor areas. The UNRWA headquarters has on its grounds a petrol and diesel station for the Agency’s fleet of cars.

Our director with the help of other staff had to put out the fire themselves as it took the Israeli fire extinguishers and police a while before they turned up.

A crowd accompanied by armed men were witnessed outside the compound chanting “Burn down the United Nations” (see video below 👇 from Israeli media).

This is an outrageous development. Once again, the lives of UN staff were at a serious risk.

In light of this second appalling incident in less than a week, I have taken the decision to close down our coumpound until proper security is restored.

Over the past two months, Israeli extremists have been staging protests outside the UNRWA compound in Jerusalem, called by an elected member of the Jerusalem municipality.

This week, the protest became violent when demonstrators threw stones at UN staff and at the buildings of the compound.

Over the past months, UN staff have regularly been subjected to harassment and intimidation. Our compound has been seriously vandalized and damaged.

On several occasions, Israeli extremists threatened our staff with guns.

It is the responsibility of the State of Israel as an occupying power to ensure that United Nations personnel and facilities are protected at all times.

UN staff, premises and operations should be protected at all times in line with international law.

I call on all those who have influence to put an end to these attacks and hold all those responsible accountable.

The perpetrators of these attacks must be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable.

Anything less will set a new dangerous standard.

-Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of UNRWA

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peacekeepersday · 11 days

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Remarks by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, on International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2024.

Minister of Federal Affairs, the Honourable Losuba Ludoru Wongo; Excellencies, members of the diplomatic community. My fellow United Nations colleagues and peacekeepers. Distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the official commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Every year, on this day - the 29th of May - we honour the more than two million women and men who have served as United Nations peacekeepers since the first mission was deployed in 1948.

Importantly, we also pay tribute to the 4374 peacekeepers who have given their lives since that time in the cause of peace across the world.

Today, we particularly remember 14 of our colleagues serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan who sadly passed away in the last year. We take the opportunity to again express our deep condolences to their families.

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their legacy inspires us to continue all efforts in the pursuit of peace.

For 76 years, United Nations peacekeepers have made a tangible impact on the communities they serve.

They have saved and changed lives in some of the world’s most fragile political and security situations and have helped many countries navigate the difficult path from war to peace.

Today, more than 76,000 civilian, military and police personnel are deployed in 11 peacekeeping missions.

The challenges they face are greater than ever.

But they persevere to protect civilians, prevent violence, support political settlements, and build sustainable peace.

Here in South Sudan, around 18,000 civilian and uniformed peacekeepers serve with courage and determination to implement our mandate.

They carry out a wide range of tasks.

Protecting civilians.

Deterring violence.

Facilitating the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.

Monitoring and investigating human rights violations and abuses.

Bringing communities together to reconcile and resolve conflict.

Supporting political processes and election preparations.

And helping to secure peace and progress.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

This year, the theme for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers is “Building Better Together”.

It promotes the importance of peacekeeping as a collective endeavour which can only succeed with the support of many partners.

This theme resonates strongly here in South Sudan where we rely on the support of the Government and people, as well as with regional and international peace partners, including the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC).

These strong and enduring partnerships are more important than ever as we confront a growing catalogue of challenges across all fronts – economic, humanitarian, political and security.

UNMISS is doing its utmost to help overcome these challenges.

We are intensifying efforts to bring political leaders together to build consensus and increase momentum in the implementation of the peace agreement.

This includes facilitating forums for leaders and representatives of political parties at the national and state levels as well as dedicated sessions for women and youth leaders to support more inclusive decision-making and governance processes.

We are also providing significant support to preparations for elections, including technical assistance and training for electoral bodies.

Another priority is to help build the capacity of South Sudan’s institutions and public services, including the justice sector to more effectively investigate, prosecute and adjudicate crimes, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.

This includes building 23 courts, prisons, police stations and training centres this year as well as helping to deploy mobile courts which bring justice to communities where it has been missing for far too long.

Further on the infrastructure front, we continue to maintain 80 kilometres of dikes and berms in Bentiu, protecting 300,000 people stranded on a tiny sliver of land surrounded by 4500 square kilometres of flood water.

Our engineers are also repairing 2000 kilometres of roads across Warrap, Western and Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes and Upper Nile, which helps to promote economic activity and peacebuilding efforts among these communities.

In protecting civilians, we are taking a more mobile, agile and nimble approach, including establishing temporary bases in conflict hotspots, such as Koch, Maridi, Jamjang, Tambura and, most recently, in Abiemnhom.

Our presence and patrolling helps protect vulnerable communities, including displaced families, who are caught in the crossfire of intercommunal conflict. It provides a secure environment for humanitarian workers to reach those in need. And it enables feuding groups to safely come together to resolve their differences and grievances through dialogue rather than violence.

While progress is being made in the journey towards peace and stability, there is still much to be done.

Fresh momentum must be injected into the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement which remains the only route towards enduring peace.

Urgent action is also needed to meet the minimum political and technical preconditions required for peaceful and credible elections so that the people of South Sudan have the opportunity they deserve to choose their leaders and own their own future.

On this note, I’d like to reiterate the UN’s position on elections so there is no misunderstanding.

The United Nations supports the sovereign right of the Government and people of South Sudan to conduct their own elections.

Our role has been to provide technical and other assistance for electoral preparations and to support the establishment of the necessary preconditions, as agreed by the parties themselves, so that elections are free, fair, credible, and peaceful and do not become a driver of conflict.

This is in line with our core mandate from the UN Security Council to prevent a return to civil war in South Sudan.

And it is why we are working intensively with the parties and regional peace partners in support of the shared prize of elections.

Ladies and gentlemen.

On this special day, I would like to end my remarks by thanking our dedicated peacekeepers for their immense contribution to peace.

Our national staff, who strive every day to build a brighter future for their communities and country.

Our international colleagues, including more than 400 UN Volunteers, who work far from home and their families in difficult conditions to support this country on its path to peace.

I’d like to make special mention of the more than 2000 women peacekeepers serving with UNMISS, whose contribution improves the effectiveness of the Mission and makes a tangible difference to the lives of those they serve.

Lastly, to the people of South Sudan, we thank you for your support, your resilience, and your determination to overcome all obstacles and enjoy the better future that you so deserve.

You are our partner in peace.

Thank you.

Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General

#29 may #peacekeepersday #military personnel #military police #peacekeepers #uniformed personnel #peacekeeping #pay tribute to the fallen #statements #unmiss #south sudan #pk76

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wall-eblog · 1 year

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"The Top 10 Most Stressful Jobs and How to Handle Them"

“The Top 10 Most Stressful Jobs and How to Handle Them”

Here are the top 10 most stressful jobs, according to various sources: Military personnel Firefighters Airline pilots Police officers Event coordinators Public relations executives Senior corporate executives Newspaper reporters Television reporters Physicians Here are some tips on how to handle stress in these jobs: Military personnel: Seek support from your unit, practice good…

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#airline pilots #coping with stress #event coordinators #firefighters #meditation #military personnel #newspaper reporters #physicians #police officers #public relations executives #Self-care #senior corporate executives #stressful jobs #television reporters #therapy #top 10

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navakarnatakatimes · 1 year

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ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಸಚಿವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಸಿ ; 10 ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಸಿಬಂದಿ ಅಮಾನತು

ಪುಣೆ: ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಚಿವ ಚಂದ್ರಕಾಂತ್ ಪಾಟೀಲ್ ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಸಿ ಎರಚಿದ ಘಟನೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಪುಣೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಪಿಂಪ್ರಿ ಚಿಚ್ವಾಡ್ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಮೂವರು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಏಳು ಸಿಬಂದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅಮಾನತುಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಉನ್ನತ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯೊಬ್ಬರು ಭಾನುವಾರ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಡಾ.ಬಿ.ಆರ್.ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜ ಸುಧಾರಕ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಬಾ ಫುಲೆ ಕುರಿತು ಸಚಿವ ಪಾಟೀಲ್ ಅವರ ವಿವಾದಾತ್ಮಕ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿ ಶನಿವಾರ ಪಿಂಪ್ರಿ ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಘಟನೆ ನಡೆದಿತ್ತು.…

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#10 police personnel #alleged security lapse #ink #Maha minister #suspended

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ozzgin · 4 months

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Yandere! Android x Reader (I)

It is the future and you have been tasked to solve a mysterious murder that could jeopardize political ties. Your assigned partner is the newest android model meant to assimilate human customs. You must keep his identity a secret and teach him the ways of earthlings, although his curiosity seems to be reaching inappropriate extents.

Yes, this is based on Asimov’s “Caves of Steel” because Daneel Olivaw was my first ever robot crush. I also wanted a protagonist that embraces technology. :)

Content: female reader, AI yandere, 50's futurism

[Part 2] | [More original works]

You follow after the little assistant robot, a rudimentary machine invested with basic dialogue and spatial navigation. It had caused quite the ruckus when first introduced. One intern - well liked despite being somewhat clumsy at his job - was sadly let go as a result. Not even the Police is safe from the threat of AI, is what they chanted outside the premises.

"The Commissioner has summoned you, (Y/N)."

That's how it greeted you earlier, clacking its appendage against the open door in an attempt to simulate a knock.

"Do you know why my presence is needed?" You inquire and wait for the miniature AI to scan the audio message.

"I am not allowed to mention anything right now." It finally responds after agonizing seconds.

It's an alright performance. You might've been more impressed by it, had you not witnessed first hand the Spacer technology that could put any modern invention here on Earth to shame. Sadly the people down here are very much against artificial intelligence. There have been multiple protests recently, like the one in front of your building, condemning the latest government suggestion regarding automation. People fear for their jobs and safety and you don't necessarily blame them for having self preservation. On the other hand, you've always been a supporter of progress. As a child you devoured any science fiction book you could get your hands on, and now, as a high ranked police detective you still manage to sneak away and scan over articles and news involving the race for a most efficient computer.

You close the door behind you and the Commissioner puts his fat cigarette out, twisting the remains into the ashtray with monotonous movements as if searching for the right words.

"There's been a murder." Is all he settles on saying, throwing a heavy folder in your direction. A hologram or tablet might've been easier to catch, but the man, like many of his coworkers, shares a deep nostalgia for the old days.

You flip through the pages and eventually furrow your eyebrows.

"This would be a disaster if it made it to the news." You mumble and look up at the older man. "Shouldn't this go to someone more experienced?"

He twiddles with his grey mustache and glances out the fake window.

"It's a sensitive case. The Spacers are sending their own agent to collaborate with us. What stands out to you?"

You narrow your eyes and focus on the personnel sheet. What's there to cause such controversy? Right before giving up, departing from the page, you finally notice it: next to the Spacer officer's name, printed clearly in black ink, is a little "R." which is a commonly used abbreviation to indicate something is a robot. The chief must've noticed your startled reaction and continues, satisfied:

"You understand, yes? They're sending an android. Supposedly it replicates a human perfectly in terms of appearance, but it does not possess enough observational data. Their request is that whoever partners up with him will also house him and let him follow along for the entirety of the mission. You're the only one here openly supporting those tin boxes. I can't possibly ask one of your higher ups, men with wives and children, to...you know...bring that thing in their house."

You're still not sure whether to be offended by the fact that your comfort seems to be of less priority compared to other officers. Regardless of the semantics, you're presently standing at the border between Earth and the Spacer colony, awaiting your case partner. A man emerges from behind a security gate. He's tall, with handsome features and an elegant walk. He approaches you and you reach for a handshake.

"Is the android with you?" You ask, a little confused.

"Is this your first time seeing a Spacer model?" He responds, relaxed. "I am the agent in your care. There is no one else."

You take a moment to process the information, similar to the primitive machine back at your office. Could it be? You've always known that Spacer technology is years ahead, but this surpasses your wildest dreams. There is not a single detail hinting at his mechanical fundament. The movement is fluid, the speech is natural, the design is impenetrable. He lifts the warm hand he'd used for the handshake and gently presses a finger against your chin in an upwards motion. You find yourself involuntarily blushing.

"Your mouth was open. I assumed you'd want it discreetly corrected." He states, factually, with a faint smile on his lips. Is he amused? Is such a feeling even possible? You try your best to regain some composure, adjusting the collar of your shirt and clearing your throat.

"Thank you and please excuse my rudeness. I was not expecting such a flawless replica. Our assistants are...easily recognizable as AI."

"So I've been told." His smile widens and he checks his watch. You follow his gesture, still mesmerized, trying to find a single indicator that the man standing before you is indeed a machine, a synthetic product.

Nothing.

"Shall we?" He eyes the exit path and you quickly lead him outside and towards public transport.

He patiently waits for your fingerprint scan to be complete. You almost turn around and apologize for the old, lagging device. As a senior detective, you have the privilege of living in the more spacious, secured quarters of the city. And, since you don't have a family, the apartment intended for multiple people looks more like a luxury adobe. Still, compared to the advanced way of the Spacers, this must feel like poverty to the android.

At last, the scanner beeps and the door unlocks.

"Heh...It's a finicky model." You mumble and invite him in.

"Yes, I'm familiar with these systems." He agrees with you and steps inside, unbuttoning his coat.

"Oh, you've seen this before?"

"In history books."

You scratch your cheek and laugh awkwardly, wondering how much of his knowledge about the current life on Earth is presented as a museum exhibit when compared to Spacer society.

"I'm going to need a coffee. I guess you don't...?" Your words trail as you await confirmation.

"I would enjoy one as well, if it is not too much to ask. I've been told it's a social custom to 'get coffee' as a way to have small talk." The synthetic straightens his shirt and looks at you expectantly.

"Of course. I somehow assumed you can't drink, but if you're meant to blend in with humans...it does make sense you'd have all the obvious requirements built in."

He drags a chair out and sits at the small table, legs crossed.

"Indeed. I have been constructed to have all the functions of a human, down to every detail."

You chuckle lightly. Well, not like you can verify it firsthand. The engineers back at the Spacer colony most likely didn't prepare him for matters considered unnecessary.

"I do mean every detail." He adds, as if reading your mind. "You are free to see for yourself."

You nearly drop the cup in your flustered state. You hurry to wipe the coffee that spilled onto the counter and glance back at the android, noticing a smirk on his face. What the hell? Are they playing a prank on you and this is actually a regular guy? Some sort of social experiment?

"I can see they included a sense of humor." You manage to blurt out, glaring at him suspiciously.

"I apologize if I offended you in any way. I'm still adjusting to different contexts." The android concludes, a hint of mischief remaining on his face. "Aren't rowdy jokes common in your field of work?"

"Uh huh. Spot on." You hesitantly place the hot drink before him.

Robots on Earth have always been built for the purpose of efficiency. Whether or not a computer passes the Turing Test is irrelevant as long as it performs its task in the most optimal, rational way. There have been attempts, naturally, to create something indistinguishable from a human, but utility has always taken precedence. It seems that Spacers think differently. Or perhaps they have reached their desired level of performance a long time ago, and all that was left was fiddling with aesthetics. Whatever the case is, you're struggling not to gawk in amazement at the man sitting in your kitchen, stirring his coffee with a bored expression.

"I always thought - if you don't mind my honesty - that human emotions would be something to avoid when building AI. Hard to implement, even harder to control and it doesn't bring much use."

"I can understand your concerns. However, let me reassure you, I have a strict code of ethics installed in my neural networks and thus my emotions will never lead to any destructive behavior. All safety concerns have been taken into consideration.

As for why...How familiar are you with our colony?" The android takes a sip of his coffee and nods, expressing his satisfaction. "Perhaps you might be aware, Spacers have a declining population. Automated assistants have been part of our society for a long time now. What's lacking is humans. If the issue isn't fixed, artificial humans will have to do."

You scoff.

"What, us Earth men aren't good enough to fix the birth rates? They need robots?"

You suddenly remember the recipient of your complaint and mutter an apology.

"Well, I'm sure you'd make a fine contender. Sadly I can't speak for everyone else on Earth." The man smiles in amusement upon seeing the pale red that's now dusting your cheeks, then continues: "But the issue lies somewhere else. Spacers have left Earth a long time ago and lived in isolation until now. Once an organism has lost its immune responses to otherwise common pathogens, it cannot be reintegrated."

True. Very few Earth citizens are allowed to enter the colony, and only do so after thorough disinfection stages, proving they are disease free as to not endanger the fragile health of the Spacers living in a sterile environment. You can only imagine the disastrous outcome if the two species were to abruptly mingle. In that case, equally sterile machinery might be their only hope.

Your mind wanders to the idea. Dating a robot...How's that? You sheepishly gaze at the android and study his features. His neatly combed copper hair, the washed out blue eyes, the pale skin. Probably meant to resemble the Spacers. You shake your head.

"A-anyways, I'll go and gather all the case files I have. Then we can discuss our first steps. Do feel at home."

You rush out and head for your office. Focus, you tell yourself mildly annoyed.

While you search for the required paperwork - what a funny thing to say in this day and age - he will certainly take up on your generous offer to make himself comfortable. The redhaired man enters the living room, scanning everything with curious eyes. He stops in front of a digital frame and slides through the photos. Ah, this must be your Police Academy graduation. The year matches with the data he's received on you. Data files he might've read one too many times in his unexplained enthusiasm. This should be you and the Commissioner; Doesn't match the description of your father, and he seems too old to be a spouse or boyfriend. Additionally, the android distinctly recalls the empty 'Relationship' field.

"Old photos are always a tad embarrassing. I suppose you skipped that stage."

He jolts almost imperceptibly and faces you. You have returned with a thin stack of papers and a hologram projector.

"I've digitalized most files I received, so you don't have to shuffle a bunch of paper around." You explain.

"That is very useful, thank you." He gently retrieves the small device from your hand, but takes a moment before removing his fingers from yours. "I predict this will be a successful partnership."

You flash him a friendly smile and gesture towards the seating area.

"Let's get to work, then. Unless you want to go through more boring albums." You joke as you lower yourself onto the plush sofa.

The synthetic human joins you at an unexpectedly close proximity. You wonder if proper distance differs among Spacers or if he has received slightly erroneous information about what makes a comfortable rapport.

"Nothing boring about it. In fact, I'd say you and I are very similar from this point of view." He tells you, placing the projector on the table.

"Oh?"

"Your interest in technology and artificial intelligence is rather easy to infer." The man continues, pointing vaguely towards the opposing library. "Aside from the briefing I've already received about you, that is."

"And that is similar to...the interest in humans you've been programmed to have?" You interject, unsure where this conversation is meant to lead.

"Almost."

His head turns fully towards you and you stare back into his eyes. From this distance you can finally discern the first hints of his nature: the thin disks shading the iris - possibly CCD sensors - are moving in a jagged, mechanical manner. Actively analyzing and processing the environment.

"I wouldn't go as far as to generalize it to all humans.

Just you."

#yandere #yandere x darling #yandere x reader #yandere x you #yandere male #male yandere #male yandere x reader #yandere robot #yandere android #robot x human #android x reader #robot x reader #yandere scenarios #yandere imagines #yandere oc #yandere original character #yandere imagine #yandere fic

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reasonsforhope · 5 months

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"Research on a police diversion program implemented in 2014 shows a striking 91% reduction in in-school arrests over less than 10 years.

Across the United States, arrest rates for young people under age 18 have been declining for decades. However, the proportion of youth arrests associated with school incidents has increased.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, K–12 schools referred nearly 230,000 students to law enforcement during the school year that began in 2017. These referrals and the 54,321 reported school-based arrests that same year were mostly for minor misbehavior like marijuana possession, as opposed to more serious offenses like bringing a gun to school.

School-based arrests are one part of the school-to-prison pipeline, through which students—especially Black and Latine students and those with disabilities—are pushed out of their schools and into the legal system.

Getting caught up in the legal system has been linked to negative health, social, and academic outcomes, as well as increased risk for future arrest.

Given these negative consequences, public agencies in states like Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania have looked for ways to arrest fewer young people in schools. Philadelphia, in particular, has pioneered a successful effort to divert youth from the legal system.

Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program

In Philadelphia, police department leaders recognized that the city’s school district was its largest source of referrals for youth arrests. To address this issue, then–Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel developed and implemented a school-based, pre-arrest diversion initiative in partnership with the school district and the city’s department of human services. The program is called the Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program, and it officially launched in May 2014.

Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker named Bethel as her new police commissioner on Nov. 22, 2023.

Since the diversion program began, when police are called to schools in the city for offenses like marijuana possession or disorderly conduct, they cannot arrest the student involved if that student has no pending court case or history of adjudication. In juvenile court, an adjudication is similar to a conviction in criminal court.

Instead of being arrested, the diverted student remains in school, and school personnel decide how to respond to their behavior. For example, they might speak with the student, schedule a meeting with a parent, or suspend the student.

A social worker from the city also contacts the student’s family to arrange a home visit, where they assess youth and family needs. Then, the social worker makes referrals to no-cost community-based services. The student and their family choose whether to attend.

Our team—the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab at Drexel University—evaluated the effectiveness of the diversion program as independent researchers not affiliated with the police department or school district. We published four research articles describing various ways the diversion program affected students, schools, and costs to the city.

Arrests Dropped

In our evaluation of the diversion program’s first five years, we reported that the annual number of school-based arrests in Philadelphia decreased by 84%: from nearly 1,600 in the school year beginning in 2013 to just 251 arrests in the school year beginning in 2018.

Since then, school district data indicates the annual number of school-based arrests in Philadelphia has continued to decline—dropping to just 147 arrests in the school year that began in 2022. That’s a 91% reduction from the year before the program started.

We also investigated the number of serious behavioral incidents recorded in the school district in the program’s first five years. Those fell as well, suggesting that the diversion program effectively reduced school-based arrests without compromising school safety.

Additionally, data showed that city social workers successfully contacted the families of 74% of students diverted through the program during its first five years. Nearly 90% of these families accepted at least one referral to community-based programming, which includes services like academic support, job skill development, and behavioral health counseling...

Long-Term Outcomes

To evaluate a longer follow-up period, we compared the 427 students diverted in the program’s first year to the group of 531 students arrested before the program began. Results showed arrested students were significantly more likely to be arrested again in the following five years...

Finally, a cost-benefit analysis revealed that the program saves taxpayers millions of dollars.

Based on its success in Philadelphia, several other cities and counties across Pennsylvania have begun replicating the Police School Diversion Program. These efforts could further contribute to a nationwide movement to safely keep kids in their communities and out of the legal system."

-via Yes! Magazine, December 5, 2023

#philedelphia #pennsylvania #united states #us politics #school #high school #school to prison pipeline #prison system #arrests #education #students #schools #good news #hope #rare case of police not completely sucking #police #policing #law enforcement

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