Policy 5.0921

Palm Beach County School Board Gang Control Policy

The purpose of the Palm Beach County School Board Gang Control Policy is to address problems associated with youth gangs through proactive education and disciplinary action, where necessary. This policy is divided into four sections: definition of gangs, operational policy and procedures, notification and review.

1. DEFINITION OF GANGS (Florida Statute Section 874.03)

1. Youth and street gang - Any ongoing organization, association or group of three (3) or more persons, either formal or informal, which meets BOTH of the following criteria:

1. has unique common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols, and

2. has members or associates who, individually or collectively engage repeatedly in, or have repeatedly engaged in criminal activity.

2. Youth and street gang member - A person who meets any two (2) of the following criteria:

1. admits to gang membership,

2. is a youth up to age 21 who is identified as a gang member by a parent or guardian,

3. is identified as a gang member by a documented reliable informant,

4. resides in or frequents, a particular gang's area and adopts their style of dress, use of hand signs, symbols, or tattoos, and associates with known gang members,

5. is identified as a gang member by an informant of previously untested reliability and corroborated by independent information,

6. has been arrested more than once in the company of identified gang members for offenses which are consistent with usual gang activity,

7. is identified as a gang member by physical evidence such as photographs or other documentation.

2. OPERATIONAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES

1. The school administrator shall justify in writing any restrictions of symbolic expression as follows and prior to imposing such restrictions shall articulate:

1. which item of dress, expression, or article is being restricted, and

2. the basis of the administrator's belief based on articulated facts that the exercise of the prohibited activity would materially interfere with or substantially disrupt school activities.

2. The type of dress, apparel, activities, acts, behavior or manner of grooming displayed, reflected, or participated in by the student shall not:

1. lead school officials to reasonably believe that such behavior, apparel, activities, acts or other attributes are gang related and would materially interfere or substantially disrupt the school environment or activity and/or educational objectives;

2. present a physical safety hazard to self, students, staff, employees, or other persons authorized to be on the school campus.

3. If the student's behavior or other attribute is in violation of these provisions, the principal or designee will request the student to make the appropriate correction. If the student refuses, the parent/guardian may be notified and asked to make the necessary correction. The principal will take appropriate corrective and disciplinary action. 

4. Students identified as being gang involved, influenced or affiliated shall be provided assistance and/or programs which discourage gang involvement or affiliation, enhance self-esteem, encourage interest and participation in school or other positive activities and promote membership in authorized school organizations.

5. Training to provide increased awareness of the threat to the safety of students, staff and school property which gang-related activity poses shall be provided by School Police on an as-needed basis. Additional presentations shall be made available to individual schools, staff or students at the request of the principal. Presentations shall provide training in current identification symbols used by those involved in gang-related activity and shall include the identification of hand signals, apparel, jewelry, and/or other pertinent gang-related information.

3. NOTIFICATION

The principal shall notify the student body of the Palm Beach County School Board Gang Control Policy through classroom presentations and/or assemblies.

1. In FY97, a copy of the Palm Beach County School Board Gang Control Policy shall be distributed to all secondary students.

2. Beginning in FY98, a copy of the Palm Beach County School Board Gang Control Policy shall be printed in all secondary student-parent handbooks. It shall be the responsibility of students and parents to familiarize themselves with said policy.

4. REVIEW PROCEDURE

Pages 5.09A - 5.09C