Keeping Girls in School, Not in the System: Why Arrest Alternatives Matter
By Inderjit “Vicky” Basra, DSW, President & CEO and Marlo Friedland,MS, Research & Data Specialist
In Duval County and across Florida, a troubling pattern has emerged: assault/battery is the single most common reason girls are arrested for citation-eligible offenses—especially in schools. In FY 2024–25, more girls were arrested for assault/battery in Duval than boys (118 versus 96), and this offense made up nearly one-third of all arrests of girls. Even more alarming, arrests of girls for assault/battery have more than doubled since before COVID.
This trend is especially pronounced in schools. In 2025, over half of school related citations issued to girls in Duval were for assault/battery. Yet when arrests occurred, nearly all of them (93%) were for this same offense. That proportion is far higher than the share of citations and exceeds the statewide rate for girls. In other words, when schools choose to make arrests, assault/battery is overwhelmingly the reason.
This matters because Florida law does not require arrest for assault or battery in schools. Under Florida Statute 1006.13, school districts determine which behaviors fall under zero tolerance. In Duval County Public Schools, assault/battery is classified as a Level II or Level III infraction, not a Level IV zero tolerance offense. Schools are allowed to address these incidents through school-based discipline, counseling, restorative practices, or referrals to support services rather than law enforcement.
Yet practice does not match policy. Girls are still being arrested at school for behavior that could and should be addressed in developmentally appropriate ways. This gap between policy and reality points to deeper systemic issues: discretionary decisions to involve law enforcement, the criminalization of age typical conflict, and a failure to recognize how girls’ behavior often reflects trauma, self-protection, or relational stress rather than criminal intent.
These arrests carry lasting consequences. A school-based arrest can push a young person into the juvenile justice system, increase school exclusion, and create records that follow girls long after a single incident has passed. For girls with trauma histories or system involvement, this response deepens harm instead of promoting safety or accountability.
Florida Statute 985.12 offers a better path forward by emphasizing the use of civil citations through the Pre-Arrest Delinquency Citation (PADC) program. Assault/battery already qualifies for these alternatives and is the primary offense for which citations are issued. Expanding their use in schools can reduce recidivism, maintain public safety, and keep girls connected to education and supports.
Achieving this shift will take coordinated effort. Schools, law enforcement, and community partners must work together to prioritize citations and diversion over arrest, invest in school-based social workers and mental health professionals, and intervene early with high-risk girls. Girl centered, trauma-informed practices are not just compassionate; they are effective.
Keeping girls in school, not in the justice system, is both a policy choice and a community responsibility.
