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Zero tolerance policies in schools and mandatory minimum sentences have the same arguments and issues (lemmy.ca)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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  • Proponents will argue it's about fairness and deterrence
  • Lack of judicial discretion and a shift to prosecutorial power will end up with disproportionate punishments, while still allowing for discrimination
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[–] 39 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

I forgot to take my adhd medication as a twelve year old and my mom gave it to me as I ran out the door. I put it in my pocket, forgot about it until later, and then nearly got expelled for trying to sell drugs [edit: because it fell out of my pocket] because of a zero tolerance policy.

I say nearly, because I’m white with educated parents and a sympathetic situation, so obviously the zero tolerance policy learned a little tolerance.

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  • [–] 14 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    What is the next step once a kid is expelled? They join another school?

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  • [–] 11 points 11 months ago

    I was at a regional magnet school, so I probably would have gone to my town’s middle school.

    I honestly don’t know what happens if you get kicked out of that- maybe you go to a neighboring town’s school, or maybe there are other schools for kids that get expelled, but the government still has an obligation to educate you until a certain age, so you don’t just stop going to school (unless you’re in juvenile detention, at which point you probably have a teacher on premises).

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