Communities should adopt policies and programs that address the needs of children and youth most at risk for crime or violence and reduce aggressive law enforcement tactics that stigmatize youth and marginalize their participation in schools and communities.
4.6.1 Work to reform policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system.
SPPD is committed to juvenile success
The Saint Paul Police Department works with its juvenile justice partners to develop policies meant to redirect children to resources rather than corrections. The department supports the work of the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) program, which is specifically focused on redirecting youth away from the juvenile justice system when responsible and prudent.
Since 2005, the Ramsey County JDAI program has reduced total detention admissions by more than 70%. The department is the largest agency working in the Ramsey County Corrections System.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.1 Work to reform policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system.
SPPD is committed to juvenile success
The Saint Paul Police Department works closely with Saint Paul Schools to minimize law enforcement responses to adolescent needs. Under this partnership, schools - not officers - are the first to respond to minor student incidents.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.1 Work to reform policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system.
SPPD is committed to juvenile success
The Saint Paul Police Department is committed to programs designed to prevent and control juvenile delinquency. The department maintains close working relationships with other components of the juvenile justice system, including the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Ramsey County Corrections Office, Ramsey County Juvenile Court and the Minnesota and Ramsey County Departments of Human Services, which are all critical to the successful accomplishment of enforcement and prevention objectives.
Reference Data
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.2 Work with schools to encourage the creation of alternatives to student suspensions and expulsion through restorative justice, diversion, counseling, and family interventions.
SPPD supports our schools
The Saint Paul Police Department supports the work of school administrators to facilitate alternative student intervention. The department is committed to meeting with students, teachers and staff on a regular basis to share ideas, concerns and information about how we can all work together to maintain safe and secure learning environments.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.3 Work with schools to encourage the use of alternative strategies that involve youth in decision making, such as restorative justice, youth courts, and peer interventions.
SPPD supports our schools
The Saint Paul Police Department supports the work of school administrators to facilitate alternative student intervention.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.4 Work with schools to adopt an instructional approach to discipline that uses interventions or disciplinary consequences to help students develop new behavior skills and positive strategies to avoid conflict, redirect energy, and refocus on learning.
SPPD supports our schools
The Saint Paul Police Department provides services beyond safety and security into instructing and mentoring in problem solving and conflict resolution for Saint Paul Public School students.
Task Status: Upcoming
4.6.5 Work with schools to develop and monitor school discipline policies with input and collaboration from school personnel, students, families, and community members. These policies should prohibit the use of corporal punishment and electronic control devices.
SPPD officers mentor youth
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.6 Work with schools to create a continuum of developmentally appropriate and proportional consequences for addressing Upcoming and escalating student misbehavior after all appropriate interventions have been attempted.
SPPD supports our schools
The Saint Paul Police Department supports schools in implementing this important action item. The department has worked with school administrators to evolve school policy and improve responses to create safe environments that are supportive of learning.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.7 Work with communities to play a role in programs and procedures to reintegrate juveniles back into their communities as they leave the juvenile justice system.
SPPD supports our justice partners
The Saint Paul Police Department supports the reintegration initiatives of Ramsey County Corrections. The department is an active member of the Ramsey County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which works to ensure the entire criminal justice system is providing the best outcomes for those who contact it.
Reference Data
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.7 Work with communities to play a role in programs and procedures to reintegrate juveniles back into their communities as they leave the juvenile justice system.
SPPD uses non-traditional law enforcement techniques to promote public safety
The Saint Paul Police Department places a heavy emphasis on non-traditional roles for gang investigators, who spend a significant amount of time working in programs aimed at helping offenders through reentry, chemical dependency, gang departure and tattoo removal.
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Task Status: Established Practice
4.6 Police Officers work with SPPS to limit police involvement in student discipline.
SPPD supports our schools
Saint Paul Police Department officers are not involved in student discipline. Officers have worked to facilitate positive police contacts with students, promote positive choices and activities, establish rapport, encourage open communications and contribute to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.
Task Status: Established Practice
4.6.9 The Federal Government should assess and evaluate zero tolerance strategies and examine the role of reasonable discretion when dealing with adolescents in consideration of their stages of maturation or development.
SPPD Response
Not applicable for local law enforcement.
Task Status: Not Applicable
4.6.1 Work to reform policies and procedures that push children into the juvenile justice system.
SPPD committed to youth success
The Saint Paul Police Department created the Community Ambassador Program to engage youth, who are sometimes at risk of making life changing mistakes, with members of the community. Working with adult community “Ambassadors”, the department reduced incidents of arrest, juvenile crime and juvenile arrests in problem locations. The program focuses on diverting youth into formal supervised activities and away from life on the street. The program leverages the power of juvenile service providers and local businesses who provide jobs.
For more information, please contact:
Joel Franklin
Community Ambassadors, Executive Ambassador
651-224-4600
jfranklin@hallieqbrown.org
Beyond Protests, St. Paul shows how police and community can find solutions
Christian Science Monitor / July 2015
2016 Ambassador Program Final Report
St. Paul lands $75K grant to beef up youth ambassador effort
Pioneer Press | Nov. 15, 2016
Reference Data
Task Status: Established Practice