cannabisnews.com: Rewards for Drug Tips Questioned





Rewards for Drug Tips Questioned
Posted by CN Staff on November 15, 2002 at 08:53:41 PT
From Wire Reports 
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Police are questioning the safety of a plan in which middle-school teachers pay students $100 out of their pockets to identify youths who have drugs on campus.Tom Payne, an eighth-grade history teacher, quietly started the reward program last year, and now administrators at Highlands Middle School are reviewing whether it should become a school policy.
Word that the 47-year-old history teacher was confidentially paying for information about drugs has filtered out, and results have been measurable.Single marijuana cigarettes are the norm, but other students have had enough to be suspected of selling, he said."There have been several tips that have led to arrests," said Payne, who estimated he has paid out $400.Assistant Chief Mike Rutledge of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office sees problems with the program."You pit kids against each other, and you don't ever want to do that," he said.He said he has concerns about the information standing up in court and noted that drugs are not a significant problem at the school of 1,500 students.At first, Payne offered the rewards quietly, then teacher Randall Shippee joined him.Principal Victoria Schultz said that when she learned what the teachers were doing, her concerns ranged from student safety to school liabilityIf rewards are to be offered for drug information, Schultz wants a written policy.Last year, there were 15 nonalcohol drug arrests at the school. For the first quarter of this year, there were three.Schultz said any students found with drugs are arrested, suspended for several days, and assigned to take substance-abuse classes.Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)Published: November 15, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Orlando SentinelContact: insight orlandosentinel.comWebsite: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on November 15, 2002 at 10:37:44 PT
Alabama Police State
So many laws, so many ways to pull those with different ideas that aren't in sync. with the political establishment into the "meat grinder". The cops broke into her house, messed up her stuff, held her in jail way longer than they should, lied to her and her family repeatedly, etc., etc. to intimidate her just because she had the audacity to exercise her First Admenment rights. 
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Comment #4 posted by canaman on November 15, 2002 at 10:30:17 PT
Another reasonable Cop?
Assistant Chief Mike Rutledge of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office sees problems with the program."You pit kids against each other, and you don't ever want to do that," he said.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
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Comment #3 posted by VitaminT on November 15, 2002 at 10:16:52 PT
Tips are pretty thin evidence
anyone can call them in anonymously and they can say what they want whether it's true or not. Dirty lying Cops love it because it provides them a pretext for violating the constitution.Here's a good example from the Police State of Alabama.
Anonymous tip leads to politically motivated raid
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Comment #2 posted by 420toker on November 15, 2002 at 10:06:08 PT
What
So uh how many alcohol arrests exactly.
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Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on November 15, 2002 at 09:47:35 PT
Another stupid idea.
What a great way inflict pain on your school rivals, be it the school bully that is picking on you, or a competitor for the head cheer leader spot. Secretly denounce them as antisocial drug users and have them ground up in the system.What a truely stupid idea for a school that had little or not problem to begin with.
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