Several juvenile criminal offenders are suing the city and state of New Yorks department of education for denying them their constitutional right to a basic education.

The 43-page lawsuit was filed last week with the assistance of Advocates for Children, a nonprofit group that monitors education; the Legal Aid Society; and the Manhattan law firm of Dewey Ballantine. It argues that the plaintiffs, ages 7 to 21, have been deprived of a minimally adequate education because of systemic flaws in the way the school system processes former juvenile offenders and delinquents.

According to the suit, "Schools in the community often refuse to admit class members upon their release from court-ordered settings." []

Under city regulations, the lawsuit argues, such students must be placed in a school within five days of applying, and no school can turn them away.

Jerry Russo, the press secretary for Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, said, "We are disappointed at the filing of the litigation, given the positive changes we have been making."

But lawyers for the students say that change has not happened fast enough.

"These problems began before Chancellor Klein took over, and while the department has made some recent changes, our clients' needs have yet to be addressed," said Elisa Hyman, the deputy director of Advocates for Children.

deathcharger

Painesville, OH

April 2004

DEC 21, 2004 05:45 PM

anything to make a buck... ya gotta love criminals sueing

Attack_Macaque

Mesquite, TX

September 2004

DEC 21, 2004 06:37 PM

deathcharger said:
anything to make a buck... ya gotta love criminals sueing

These people are suing for access to an education, so that they can aspire to become something better than "criminals." And I guess I must have missed the part of the article that said that they were suing for money.

gaiseric

Eugene, OR

July 2003

DEC 21, 2004 06:38 PM

Normally I'd take a lawsuit like this in a more cynical manner. However, Since an education at the public expense is actually a good thing they should have been re-admitted.

The Public School System is there to Educate. Sadly many seem to prefer to indoctronate and probably saw these kids as being a hinderance to that.

[Edited on Dec 21, 2004 6:40PM]

thelastbeliever

United Kingdom

January 2004

DEC 21, 2004 06:41 PM

You can sue for anything these days. In fact i am going to sue this site because it is taking up too much of my time. It is STEALING my time. So i'm going to sue.

When my membership runs out though.

PaulNikon

Palm Bay, FL

February 2003

DEC 21, 2004 07:02 PM

Why give them an education?

If they can get a job, then they won't be criminals anymore.

How are we going to keep these prisons open? Judges on the bench? Cops on the street?

totovader

Minneapolis, MN

OLD SKOOL

DEC 21, 2004 08:48 PM

I must not be reading the same Constitution, I don't see where a right to education is stated...

psilogen

Saint Paul, MN

March 2004

DEC 21, 2004 10:10 PM

totovader said:
I must not be reading the same Constitution, I don't see where a right to education is stated...

it doesn't have to be explicitly referenced to be a right

bpatrick

Tampa, FL

March 2004

DEC 21, 2004 11:27 PM

They denied themselves an education
by being juvenile delinquents. They
have noone but themselves to blame,
but they do what every other malcontent
in America is urged to do- sue.
Pathetic.

[Edited on Dec 21, 2004 11:28PM]

jewcy

Brooklyn, NY

July 2004

DEC 21, 2004 11:38 PM

god you guys are bastards. they should've been readmitted. seriously.
it said "release from court-ordered settings," not "escape" or "failure to complete." they were released, which means they properly served their time.
give them a fucking break, it's not like you've never screwed up.