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At the October 19, 2022, School Board Meeting, Mari Tere Rojas proffered Board Agenda Item H-18, which was approved by Board Members, for the feasibility of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) expanding the implementation of the Consequences Aren’t Minor Program.
The Consequences Aren’t Minor is a program/presentation designed by Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez to educate students and parents about the life altering consequences of getting involved with the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Through an interactive presentation and discussion, Mr. Martinez teaches students and parents about current laws and how they relate to “childhood indiscretions”. The presentation also contains a lively discussion about the far-reaching consequences of an arrest, plea, conviction, and adjudication.
The goals of The Consequences Aren’t Minor program are to:
- Reduce delinquent and criminal behavior.
- Educate young people to keep them from engaging in delinquent behavior.
- Educate parents so they can prevent their children from engaging in delinquent behavior.
- Dispel myths about juvenile court being a slap on the wrist.
- Educate elected officials and legislators so they can fix the draconian and ineffective laws that make it easier for kids to get a job from a drug dealer than a car dealer.
At the School Board Meeting of September 5, 2018, the Board approved agenda item H-4, proffered by Board Member Mari Tere Rojas authorizing the Superintendent of Schools to explore the feasibility of Miami-Dade County Public Schools implementing The Consequences Aren’t Minor program/presentation during the 2018-2019 school year, at no cost to the district. A follow-up memorandum was provided to the Board on October 9, 2018, which stated that “The Consequences Aren’t Minor presentation is part of the annual summer programming organized by the Division of Educational Opportunity and Access. A total of 60 students have participated each summer.”
At the last Board-approved Districtwide Safety and Security Committee meeting held on September 26, 2022, a discussion was held regarding the number of middle school students who are encountering delinquent behaviors and the need for parents to have a comprehensive understanding of those actions and the life-long consequences their children may face.
