The Broward County College Board has voted to scrap the controversial PROMISE program, which was geared toward retaining college students out of the prison justice system.
Launched in 2013, this system — which stands for Preventing Recidivism through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education — was designed to chop down on the college district’s variety of in-school arrests, which have been the very best within the state at the moment.
Beneath this system, college students within the county who dedicated a selected non-violent behavioral infraction that will usually result in a juvenile delinquency arrest have been provided a substitute for being arrested. They have been issued a non-criminal quotation by the district, despatched to various colleges, and given counseling and different providers the district provides.
Infractions equivalent to possession of alcohol, drug use, vandalism, and petty theft have been among the many incidents that certified for this system.
This system had been praised by the Obama administration’s Justice Division.
However on Tuesday, the college board to dissolve this system in a 5-to-2 vote.
Those that opposed this system mentioned it was an avenue that allowed college students off the hook with out involving legislation enforcement.
It additionally confronted a lot criticism in 2018 as a result of the Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz was assigned to this system however by no means accomplished it. Crus attended Stoneman Douglas Excessive College however was expelled in 2017 for disciplinary causes. As he couldn’t be expelled from the Broward County College system utterly, he was transferred to an alternate placement. He’s presently serving life in jail.
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Plans for a revamped program
In accordance with Broward Faculties Superintendent Peter Licata, there will likely be a proposal for a revamped program. However for now, all the providers provided by this system will stay in place. He says he desires the district to be proactive in coping with misdemeanor crimes dedicated by college students.
“It’s our duty as a college district that if an motion occurs in a sure college, we now have to make it possible for they’re skilled to do the identical factor as one other college,” he instructed the board.
“We need to make it possible for the whole lot is finished entrance as a substitute of again. Cease engaged on the response and be proactive in that. So these providers will in all probability develop as we transfer ahead.”
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