ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

Judge Herschel T. Hamner, Jr. and Judge Philip N. Lisenby, Family Court Judges for Tuscaloosa Country, Alabama; recognize that the increasing threat of violence in our schools has a devastating effect on our children’s ability to learn and our teachers’ ability to teach. In response to this problem, the Family Court Judges announce the implementation of a “Zero Tolerance Policy” for offenses involving juveniles occurring at or near school.

In order to facilitate a swift and decisive intervention in situations of school crime, the Court adopts a “Zero Tolerance Policy” as follows:

1. MANDATORY DETENTION: Any juvenile charged with the commission of offenses involving illegal drugs, weapons, criminal assault on school and law enforcement personnel, felonies and other similar offenses during school hours, during school-sponsored activities or otherwise on or near school property, will be immediately removed, transported to Juvenile Court and detained.
2. DETENTION IN THE COUNTY JAIL: Pursuant to a new law effective May 1996; the Tuscaloosa County Jail will serve as an additional detention facility for juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent offense.
3. METAL DETECTORS AND LOCKER SEARCHES: The Family Court Judges favor the use of metal detectors at schools as well as searches of lockers and other common areas for the presence of weapons and illegal drugs.
4. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY: Parents will be held accountable for offenses by their children to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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