Keep kids in school, cops say, or they may end up in jail

By DARCIE MORAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan police officers are hoping to lessen the frequency of suspensions and expulsions in the state’s schools to help fight crime. The problem with out-of-school suspensions is students might not be supervised when they are told not to come to school, said Grand Rapids Police Department Lt. Dave Schnurstein. “Sending them home can be an adequate punishment but in many households, and certainly in many lower income households, the kids are just home alone,” Schnurstein said. “Some kids, that’s what they’re hoping for. “When they’re not at school then they have the opportunity to get in criminal acts,” he said.