After the Covenant School shooting in 2023, Tennessee lawmakers passed two contradictory laws that were designed to reduce violence and discourage students from making threats.
The laws took effect before this school year, resulting in students across the state being arrested for statements that wouldn’t even get them expelled. Today, we discuss the conflicting nature of school threat assessment laws and the unintended consequences they’ve created. And it’s your turn to talk. We want to hear from you: Are threat assessment laws in Tennessee working? Call 615-760-2000 with your question or comment.
This episode was produced by Mary Mancini, Paige Pfleger and Aliyya Swaby.
Guests
- Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, Reporter covering children, families and social inequality
- Paige Pfleger, WPLN, Criminal Justice Reporter
- Kevin Boyer, Father of 11-year-old arrested in Chattanooga
- Zoë Jamail, Policy Coordinator for Disability Rights Tennessee
- Matt Moore, Assistant Public Defender for the 26th Judicial District of Tennessee
Further reading and listening
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