Rockford, Illinois (WiFR) – lawyers behind Complaint Against Rockford State Schools (RPS 205) focus their struggle to Springfield.
Last fall lawyers Angie Himenes and Nina Montfredo of National Youth Law Center The accused RPS in “blur lines” in relations to the Rockford Police Department (RPD).
Their argument was focused on the punishment of students – claiming school resources (Sros) from RPD “disproportionate” punished black students with municipal tickets.
However, the US Department of Education did not take into account this complaint for further proceedings.
Since then, lawyers have cooperated with their parents, school districts and state legislators to develop a legislation that stops the police from students from “improper treatment”.
“We push students to the legal system that is really designed for adults,” says Himenes – a director’s lawyer with the National Youth Law Center.
She believes that fines for things such as Vaping, Clogging or Officer of the School, do more harm than benefits – especially since the state already forbids school districts from direct students from tickets.
bill Springfield would have closed a “loophole”, which allowed SRO to issue tickets that can reach up to $ 750 for children.
“Just eliminating it completely, and saying that they are unable to get a period of violation of the municipal order, it would really just solve this issue completely and eliminate this riddle,” Himenes explains.
The new law has three goals: to stop municipal violations against students, require reporting to the state about references to law enforcement agencies in schools, allow law enforcement officers to comply with the law without excessive punishments.
“Having someone worry will make such a more positive difference than just mark these children,” says Himenes.
Chicago Senator Karin Villa and State Repl.
“It doesn’t make sense,” the question State Senator Dave Sesson (R-Cherry Valley). For him, the bill ignores the consequences of bad behavior.
“Schools should be places of study, which means to find out what the consequences are,” he adds. “Students should know at an early age that if you violate the rules, if you violate the law, there are consequences. And if you do it at a young age, they will grow up and commit more serious crimes. “
One item Syverson finds a common language that collects law enforcement references.
State Senator Steve Schellman (D-Rokford) says he hopes to know more about the bill.
“This is a good start to discuss with local school districts as far as they do and that they should not do,” Stadelman says. “I am glad to see how the bill was presented and we will see where it will end in a couple of months.”
Democrat’s focus remains that students are best for students: “How effective is punishment if someone, for example, is caught by VAPING. Does the student get a ticket help them? ”
This bill is the second major effort to stop police tickets in schools. The first dissolved in 2022.
Himenes says that this time the legislation includes more stakeholders – including parents of children who are celebrated.
“We are on the same page that we are all here for students,” she says.
A lawyer announces that education should benefit students’ success and not establish an atmosphere of penalties or observation.
“They can be burdened with this debt because they can go to collections if they consider responsible,” Himenes recalls. “If they consider responsible, they cannot exclude it.”
The status of a bill can be tracked here.
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