The negative effects of 'Zero Tolerance' policies

I think growing up as a person who knows I have flaws has really shaped the way I think about 'zero tolerance' policies. I've always thought of them to be pretty stupid in the majority of cases (very rarely have I ever read or heard of them used appropriately in terms of a kid being expelled or suspended from school for an actual dangerous weapon) and often lacking in common sense. Don't get me wrong though. I firmly believe that dangerous kids should be dealt with accordingly, but not with the heavy hand of the law or the criminal justice system [in most cases]. As Eric Holder says very clearly in this Retro Report, sometimes kids are just going to be kids. Meaning some kids will misbehave, cause a ruckus, and disrupt classes. But that doesn't mean they are criminals. Treating them as such however is surely an express lane to that life.