lllinois Schoolkids Ticketed by Cops for Misbehavior
Across Illinois, police are ticketing thousands of students a year for in-school adolescent behavior once handled only by the principal’s office, violating the intent of an Illinois law that prohibits schools from fining students as a form of discipline.
Landwebs
Across Illinois, police are ticketing thousands of students a year for in-school adolescent behavior once handled only by the principal’s office, violating the intent of an Illinois law that prohibits schools from fining students as a form of discipline, reports ProPublica. Instead of issuing fines directly, school officials refer students to police, who then ticket them for municipal ordinance violations. In addition, dozens of school districts routinely fail to follow another state law prohibiting schools from notifying police when students are truant so officers can ticket them.
Students have no right to legal representation and little chance to defend themselves against charges that can have long-term consequences. Ticket fines can be hundreds of dollars, presenting an impossible burden for some families, and administrative or court fees of up to $150 are often tacked on. Unpaid fines are sometimes sent to collections or deducted from parents’ tax refunds and cases can’t be expunged under state law. More than 11,800 tickets have been issued during the last three school years.
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