Pubdate: Sun, 11 Sep 2005
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Marshall Jones
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?217 (Drug-Free Zones)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

MOUNTIE'S EFFORTS APPLAUDED

A Kelowna Mountie has been recognized by Canada's justice minister for his 
work at Kelowna secondary school.

Const. Dean Childs was awarded a certificate of distinction in the Minister 
of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award program for working to 
find a better solution for disciplining students using marijuana at school.

Childs has been working with UBC's Dr. Marvin Krank to develop a program 
called AIMS or Alternative Intervention for Marijuana Suspension program.

Childs says schools traditionally would send students home under suspension 
the first time they are caught, then calling police because the student was 
in the "drug free zone" touted by Central Okanagan Crime stoppers, but 
Childs said that just wasn't working.

"We felt we weren't being as effective as we could be," he said. "We wanted 
it to be part of the alternative measures under the (Youth Criminal Justice 
Act) to get something happening."

Krank has been working with School District 23 on a number of research 
projects and behaviour modification studies.

Initial results of the project are promising an Childs, for one, would like 
to see it used all across the school district.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom