My child skipped school and the police brought him home, but he had bruises

The problem of school truancy is something that Philadelphia police deal with on a daily basis during a school year. Each day, more than 12,000 students are truant, which increases the chances for problems.

The Problem of Police Brutality

However, the methods for dealing with this issue can sometimes go far beyond everyday police work. In the city of Philadelphia, the department’s lengthy record of brutality against all ages remains a concern.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found in March 2013 that stops without reasonable suspicion occurred with either African Americans or Latinos 76 percent of the time.

Necessities For Students Injured by Police

A situation where a truant child is brought to his family residence with bruises on their body could mean the individual was struck by a police officer. In that case, being able to find witnesses to whatever happened is imperative. Also, taking a photograph of any injuries and preserving clothing worn is necessary toward the success of any litigation.

The Case of Darrin Manning

On January 7, 2014, a 16-year-old Philadelphia honor student, Darrin Manning, was accosted by police while wearing a ski mask. The choice of clothing, which was given to Manning by his teacher, was due to single-digit temperatures.

Manning was frisked by a female officer and ended up undergoing surgery at Children’s Hospital. In July, a grand jury absolved the police of any criminal acts.

The Truancy Pick-Up Program

The Philadelphia School District has a specific policy in place to deal with truant students, called the Truancy Pick-Up Program. On every non-holiday weekday during the school year between 9-11:30 a.m., police stop students on public streets or in public areas.

Documentation and a check of student’s identification can confirm the student’s name and school. Those without documentation are taken to either their school, an age-appropriate school or a district Truancy Support Center.

A parent is contacted as soon as possible, but if they’re unable to pick the child up, the child remains at the school or Center for the rest of the school day. Those remaining at the Center are provided a bus token when dismissed at the conclusion of the day.

The main thing to keep in mind with this situation is that there is no minimum age for a person’s civil rights to be respected.

Contact Philadelphia police brutality lawyer, Patrick Geckle today to discuss your case. You can call 800-555-7760 or contact him through his website. He works on contingency for the sake of his clients, so you don’t pay anything up front. If he didn’t believe in you and your cause, he wouldn’t agree to this form of pay.