The U.S. Department of Labor this week announced a tough new Job Corps code of conduct featuring a "one strike and you're out" provision.
The new policy mandates automatic expulsion of any Job Corps student who commits an act of violence or uses drugs.Clearfield Job Corps Center Director John Crosby isn't surprised by the move. His center has used a no-tolerance policy since 1992, and if his experience is any indication, the national program will be a rousing success.
"We've been doing this for a while," he said. "Everybody in the community loves us now - the police chiefs, everybody."
He's right. The police chiefs of Clearfield and nearby Layton enthusiastically praise Clearfield's no-tolerance policy.
"It's had a great effect," Chief Doyle Talbot of Layton said. "We used to have periodic problems with the center, but since the center has adopted that kind of policy, we don't have as many run-ins as we used to."
"We had a big share of our resources directed toward the center and the activities around it, but there's been a steady decline in the amount of police intervention," said Chief Morton Sparks of Clearfield. "It's the fruit of that policy. When (the students) know they've been caught doing something on the list of no tolerance, they know they've lost a real privilege.
"I think (the new policy) will bring credibility to Job Corps centers nationwide."
Clearfield police used to be called 10 to 15 times daily to take care of Job Corps student-related problems, Sparks said. He estimates that since the no-tolerance policy was put in place, calls have dropped to two or three daily.
Under the new policy, effective immediately, all Job Corps entrants must be drug-free and stay clean throughout their enrollment. Actions that will get the student automatically expelled include possession of a gun or other weapon, any arrest for a felony, and possession, sale or use of any illegal drug.
"Our violence and drug policy is clear: One strike and you're out," said Labor Secretary Robert Reich. "We must demand an environment that is safe and secure."
The policy change was a response to Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., head of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, who has been an outspoken critic of problems in Job Corps. And it has had problems. Reviews of centers since last June revealed uneven enforcement of the previous disciplinary policy, which provided a framework for dealing with drugs and violence but didn't spell out the consequences.
"They had some experiences at other Job Corps centers that, uh, weren't positive ones," Crosby said.
Kassebaum developed the no-tolerance policy jointly with the Labor Department.
The new program is slightly stricter than the one at Clearfield, which has allowed students who were caught to explain themselves before a student and staff review board.
"Nineteen out of 20 times their excuse is pretty lame, but every once in a while they come up with something good . . . sometimes it wasn't them," Crosby said. "At least they have that option (for a hearing)."
No longer. Clearfield is required to implement the new policy, which does not provide for hearings, along with every other center.
Clearfield has expelled 10 to 15 students per year as a result of its no-tolerance policy. Ten to 15 more were expelled but allowed to transfer to other centers.
"Most of the kids that are gone are ones that people knew were bad anyway," Crosby said. "They shouldn't have been here."
Despite the program's success, Crosby had misgivings when he put the policy in place.
"We held our breath to see if we were going to lose half our population," he said. "(But) all the kids were real positive . . . I think we underestimate our kids sometimes."