— In North Carolina, the Court of Appeals of North Carolina reversed the adjudication of a student because of an error by a trial court judge who allowed the student to testify “without advising him of his right to remain silent or that his testimony could be used against him.” The thirteen-year-old student was temporarily assigned to an alternative school program during which time he was not allowed to attend any athletic functions or other extracurricular activities. However, the student violated the prohibition and was caught attending a football game. A school resource officer asked him to leave. But the student remained in the parking lot. A school administrator asked him to leave the area. Together the officials forced the student to depart. The court adjudicated the student for second-degree trespass and disorderly conduct at a school event. When the student was called to testify at trial, the judge, “did not, at any time, engage in any sort of colloquy with (the student) as to whether he understood the implications of testifying, which constitutes error.” The appellate court ruled that, “the plain language of (state law) places an affirmative duty on the trial court to protect the rights delineated therein during a juvenile delinquency adjudication.” Matter of G.J.W.L.
— In Illinois, Chicago Public Schools principals take issue with board’s plan to remove police officers. “Of the 40 high schools that voted on the question of resource officers during the present school year, 39 voted to keep police officers in their schools. Principals are now pushing back and wondering why the decision isn’t going to remain theirs.”
— In Alabama, The Calera Police Department has developed the new student intervention program led by its school resource officers. The Calera Accountability and Success through Education program (CASE) is designed to “educate students on the dangers facing the youth today like vaping, drug use, and bullying.”
— In Texas, the Hutto ISD is upgrading persons who have served as campus safety officers with the district for at least a year as a full-fledged police officer. This policy will help solve the problems of a limited supply of police officers. New state laws require every school to have an officer.