Police Arrest 5- and 6-Year Olds - Caught on Video

What is one thing school officials are doing to control unruly children in classrooms? They are calling the police and having the children arrested - but some of the children are in kindergarten. There are shocking video clips of these children being arrested that should raise public concern over the use of this discipline in public schools. I understand the challenges of school officials trying to keep schools safe since I used to be a high school teacher. Perhaps for children at this age, medical professionals, rather than law enforcement, should be called to assist school staff.

In March, 2007, a mother was shocked to learn that police, in Highlands County, Florida, had handcuffed and arrested her 6-year old daughter, who was later booked into Highlands County Jail on one felony and two misdemeanor counts. Desre Watson had never had behavior problems and her mother believes something must have triggered the violent eruption. According to police, Desre began throwing chairs, striking a teacher, crying and wailing, and began kicking and scratching - hitting a teacher who intervened in the disruption. School officials said they were forced to call the police because they have a duty to protect and make that school environment a safe place for students, staff, and faculty.

School officials say there are certain procedures the faculty members follow when they cannot control an unruly child. If the parent cannot be reached, they call law enforcement. Desre, who is now suspended from school, was charged with disruption of a school function, battery on school employees, and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence. The State Attorney's Office will have to decide whether to prosecute or drop the charges. Avon Park Police Chief Prank Mercurio says it snot the first time an elementary student has been arrested in the city. Desre's mother, Lateshia Wilson, worries about the long-term effects this incident will have on her daughter and she is considering a law suit.

In 2005, police were called to Fairmount Park Elementary School in St. Petersburg, Florida where they handcuffed and arrested a 5-year old girl after she acted up in her kindergarten class. A video camera, rolling in the classroom for a self-improvement exercise, captured the arrest of the crying young child. Prior to the arrest, the principal tried repeatedly to control the girl's behavior. The girl ignored the commands and began punching the principal. The girl's mother was called, but was unable to come to the school. The mother later commented that she believed there is a personality conflict between the child and the assistant principal. After placing the child in the back of the police cruiser, the child was released to the mother's custody without charges being brought by the prosecutor. Click here to view a shocking video of the arrest: http://www.ifilm.com/video/2669547

Although the number of serious and violent juvenile (SVJ) offenders is small, these offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. According to a study by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, SVJ offenders are substantially different from typical juveniles involved in delinquent conduct. Most SVJ offenders are male and usually display early minor behavior problems that lead to more serious delinquent acts. SVJ offenders differ from non-SVJ offenders in the following specific ways:

*most SVJ offenders tend to start offending early and continue longer than non-SVJ offenders
*chronic offenders account for more than half of all serious crimes committed by juveniles and most are SVJ offenders
*SVJ offending is more prevalent among black youth than among white youth
*SVJ offenders tend to develop behavior problems such as aggression, dishonesty, and conflict with authority figures
*SVJ offenders typically advance simultaneously in each problem behavior area

In general, violent behavior results from the interaction of individual, contextual (family, school, and peers), situational, and community factors. Predictors of SVJ offending include persistent and precocious behavior problems during elementary school years, nonserious delinquent acts between 6 and 14 years of age, and gang participation. The most successful early intervention programs to prevent SVJ offending involve simultaneous intervention in the home and in the school. Community interventions, particularly public health approaches that target risk or protective factors, are also important.