ABSTRACT
The Pasco Sheriff's Office keeps a secret list of kids it thinks could “fall into a life of crime” based on factors like whether they've been abused or gotten a D or an F in school, according to the agency's internal intelligence manual. The Sheriff's Office assembles the list by combining the rosters for most middle and high schools in the county with records so sensitive, they're protected by state and federal law. School district data shows which children are struggling academically, miss too many classes or are sent to the office for discipline. Records from the state Department of Children and Families flag kids who have witnessed household violence or experienced it themselves. The process largely plays out in secret. The Sheriff's Office doesn't tell the kids or their parents about the designation. In an interview, schools superintendent Kurt Browning said he was unaware the Sheriff's Office was using school data to identify kids who might become criminals.
