To Snitch or Not to Snitch: Urban Fiction "SnitchCraft" Used in Curriculum Guide at Yale National Initiative

SnitchCraft, an urban novel by Edrea Davis, recently landed on the required reading list in a curriculum guide examining snitching at the Yale National Initiative of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.

The Introduction to Criminal Justice course, Police Investigative Challenges: To Snitch or Not to Snitch, That is the Unanswered Question, seeks to teach a comprehensive curriculum on the problems and repercussions associated with uncooperative witnesses.

SnitchCraft is required reading, notes Christine F. Shaub, a Yale National Fellow and creator of the curriculum unit, "because it looks at the present day social phenomenon of snitching, police corruption and the use of paid confidential informants in solving crime." The guide also points out that many students have not been introduced to crime fiction and do not realize it can help them identify issues connected to real life situations.

Highlighting the impact of the course, Shaub expressed how the students took ownership of the topic after reading the book. ""They researched and developed informative brochures about snitching and conducted a "Snitching Awareness Campaign" in the city. They then presented their campaign to the Mayor of Wilmington, the Wilmington Police Department Chief of Police and also visited 9th grade classrooms in school to make youngsters aware of the snitching problem and its affects," reveals Shaub

The students wanted to put city officials on notice about things the felt the officials had the authority to improve. Shaub adds, "They also addressed police corruption as it relates to snitching. I was really impressed with their efforts. These students went on to be recognized by the State of Delaware in April 2008 with a Silver Medal from an organization called SkillsUSA!"