As reported by 9 News from Colorado, a debate has begun between parents, a school district and law enforcement as two middle school boys are facing criminal charges after teachers called in the police to break up a verbal altercation between the two at school.
School administrators at Bromley East Charter called in Brighton police officers during an alleged shouting match – though no teachers reported seeing either boy land a single blow.
Both children were charged with disorderly conduct.
One of the boys charged and his mother have asked to be identified by their first names only: Adriana and Adrian.
Adriana told reporters, "I never thought I'd have to go through anything like this in my life. It's really, really bad. He is going to college and I don't want this to follow him. My son is not a criminal, not at all."
Jessica Peck, a Denver-based attorney, is representing Adrian in the case. Peck told reporters, "Watching my client walk into a courtroom at 13 years old and facing an entire room full of strangers and facing a judge, that's very traumatic on a kid and even though these charges will be dismissed, the impact of this whole proceeding will span long into his future. Kids will get in fights. That doesn't mean we should be calling 911."
According to police reports Adrian's school averages one police call for every 11 students – this school year alone. Where that may sound like a large amount, reporters have learned that two other middle schools within Brighton's jurisdiction average one call for every six students.
The executive director of Adrian's school, Lori Sheldon, commented, "There probably is more of a presence of police officers today. We don't call the police obviously on any arbitrary situation" however the school tends to "err on the side of safety."
John Bradley, the Brighton police crime analyst, said that his department prefers that schools call for police assistance whenever they deem it necessary. Bradley said, "We've moved to a time when school shootings do occur. If ever there was a time not to worry about burdening us, it would be with our children."
However, Adrian feels that the criminal charges against him have the potential to effect his life. Adrian told reporters that the police department and the schools "don't realize" that they are "tampering with someone else's life….threatening their future."
Adrian isn't alone in feeling this way, the Padres y Jovenes Unidos, translated as the Parents and Youth United, works alongside Denver police to reduce "criminalization of students" – because early arrests such as these, while still in school, affect a student's chances of graduation, attending college, getting into the military and finding jobs.
Denver is working to reduce the number of student arrests. In 2012 there were over 3,600 while in 1996 there were over 13,000.
Criminal charges such as these can be arguable. If you feel you have been wrongly charged contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case.
