Minor Infringements

When it comes to the policy or practice of applying penalties or laws to minor infringements, there are suggestions that it helps people improve deterrence and reinforce its overall important role. Have you ever heard about the zero tolerance approach? Basically, it signifies a certain philosophy toward any illegal conduct that favors the strict imposition of punishments and penalties, regardless of the specific circumstances of a given case.

Existing zero tolerance policies mainly deal with weapons and drugs so that they are implemented by many school districts in the US. There are 2 federal laws that have zero tolerance, but some state legislatures want to mandate the same policies too. Think about the supporters of this kind of approach because they content that they improve the well-being and safety of kids in addition to sending quite a strong message of deterrence.

Besides, they believe that a strict adherence to zero tolerance policies guarantees that all school officials won’t treat children differently. You should understand that there are many critics of these policies too, and they think that inflexible discipline policies are connected with harmful results. The main reason is that school administrators fail to use their common sense when applying the zero tolerance approach and this is what often results in the expulsion of kids for bringing to their schools such things as plastic knives and aspirin.

Another interesting fact that should be remembered is that this term was first used by Ronald Reagan when his presidential administration started its war on drugs. Some schools embraced this initiative because they wanted to eradicate drug use and possessions on their property. However, this policy became the law when Congress passed a special act. Keep in mind that it banned the illegal possession, use, and distribution of alcohol and drugs by school employees and students.

In addition, this act also required all educational institutions and agencies to establish certain disciplinary sanctions for its violation. This is what led to the implementation of zero tolerance policies by many schools, colleges, and other educational facilities. Congress also decided to legislate specific zero tolerance policies targeted against wearing and using weapons on school grounds. They suggested that students had to be expelled for possessing a gun.