Zero Tolerance Policy Essay

The Zero-tolerance policy was originally developed in the 1980s to target the booming drug trade by the U.S. Customs Agency (Martinez, 2009). The policy was later adopted in public schools as a response to the perception that juvenile violence was increasing and the need for school officials to take desperate measures to address the problem of violence. School officials became increasingly concerned about the use of drugs and the increasing involvement of gang activity among students. The horrific shooting at the Columbine High School only further solidified the fears of school safety among students and staff (Curtis, 2014). The Zero-tolerance policy assumes that removing students who engage in disruptive behavior will deter others from disruption and create an improved climate for those who remain (American Psychologist, 2008). The U.S. educational system has implemented a policy and philosophy, which was intended to deter drug criminals to be rendered as a disciplinary tool for students.
Following the passing of the Gun-free Schools Act of 1994 by the Clinton Administration, the Zero-tolerance policy spread rapidly throughout school systems. Congress placed the law with the objective to address school violence, leading to the

Advocates of the Zero-tolerance policy claim that the enforcement of the policy has led to a decline in school violence, as well as, discipline problems. A study conducted by Auxman (2005) stated that from 1992-2002, violence crime declined by a margin on fifty percent. However, Auxman was unable to provide the source of his research nor if the decline in school violence was attributed to the use of the Zero-tolerance policy (Martinez, 2009). On the other hand, thorough statistical and analytical research has highlighted the negative consequences of the use of the Zero-tolerance policy in