What if instead of criminalizing normal adolescent behaviors in schools, police are trained to identify and respond to the root causes of those behaviors? Former deputy police commissioner and juvenile justice advocate, Kevin Bethel’s mission is to dismantle the “school to prison pipeline”, a disturbing national trend, where students, who are disproportionately African American, are being funneled out of schools and into the criminal justice system. Bethel argues police departments can learn how to help keep youth safe and in school, and the Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program, a community-based approach rooted in individualized intervention and trauma services, is a leading example. In this insightful talk, you will learn why a second chance, not an arrest, is the only option to improve the academic, social, and well-being outcomes of youth in our communities here and across the nation. Kevin Bethel served in the Philadelphia Police Department for 29 years; in his most recent role as Deputy Police Commissioner, he was responsible for Patrol Operations for the entire city. Although his primary responsibility was to ensure public safety, throughout his career he has been committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable young people in our community. He has deliberately pursued work in the juvenile justice field, including serving on numerous national, statewide and local committees and advisory boards; regularly lecturing on school diversion and racial and ethnic disparities at the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University; and serving as a faculty member for the International Association of Chiefs of Police Juvenile Justice Leadership Institute. His passion has always been and remains reforming the juvenile justice system. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx