Session 30

This session examines teens’ rights and responsibilities on the street. What happens when teens are stopped by the police? What rights do teens have during an arrest? Can police search anyone anytime? Teens will learn the appropriate behavior during an arrest and the options that are available if they feel they have been unfairly treated by the police.

 Tips to Enhance Session 30:

• Share information from The Law and You toolkit with teens during Step B. The information in the kit is designed to help facilitate discussion between law enforcement, educators, and youth. The kit also includes a video that helps teach youth about encounters with police officers.
  
• Share background information about Miranda rights with students during Step D, so they understand how these rights can protect citizens in a court of law.

 Web Resources:

• ACLU: Provides information about civil rights provided to diverse populations, as well as articles concerning police misconduct.
• For the full text of the cases mentioned in this session, click on the links below:
  • Miranda v. Arizona
  • New York v. Quarles
  • In re Gault
  • Maryland v. Wilson

 Community Resource People:

Don’t forget to give the CRP the session materials at least one week before he or she will participate in your class.

 Service-Learning Project Ideas:

• Short Project: Students can create wallet-sized cards that lists one’s rights during an arrest, and distribute them to teens.
  
• Medium-Length Project: Teens can organize a student and police officer forum (or assembly) to discuss rights during an arrest, the costs and consequences of crime, and the necessity of law enforcement.
  
• Long Project: Students can create a “Know Your Rights” public service announcement (audio or video) for teens. The PSA should include juvenile rights during an arrest, as well as information about the cost and consequences of committing a crime (such as arrest, imprisonment, etc).