My son was arrested at school on a criminal street gang charge following a physical altercation. I know firsthand—from my own experience in the juvenile justice system—that arresting a student should always be the last resort.

In this case, there was a deeply concerning lack of communication and coordination between the School Resource Officer (SRO) who made the arrest, the gang interventionist for Madera Unified School District (MUSD), and the district’s safety and security officials. This breakdown led to an unnecessary and unsupported charge, resulting in my son being wrongfully booked into juvenile hall and labeled a gang member—an outcome that carries lasting and damaging consequences.

While there are clear improvements and changes that must be made within both the Madera Police Department (MPD) and Madera Unified School District, it is important to acknowledge the compassion, understanding, and professionalism I personally experienced from MUSD’s Safety and Security Department and the gang interventionist team. Their efforts reflect what is possible when communication, intervention, and student-centered decision-making are prioritized. This petition is not about placing blame on individuals—it is about fixing a system that failed to use those collaborative resources before escalating to arrest.

Currently, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing SRO officers on school campuses does not provide sufficient safeguards to ensure that escalation to arrest is truly a last resort. Instead, it allows for hasty law enforcement decisions to be made without a comprehensive review of the student’s history, behavior, or the full context of the incident.

These decisions do not occur in isolation. Arrests on campus can permanently alter a child’s educational trajectory, mental health, and future opportunities. Records follow students long after the incident, creating barriers that are often impossible to undo—especially when decisions are made without full information or collaboration.

We need policy change.

SROs should only intervene to arrest a student after a thorough review is conducted by school administrators. This process must include:

• Reviewing the student’s disciplinary history and behavioral record
• Consulting with district gang intervention specialists
• Coordinating with safety and security officials
• Ensuring all relevant information is considered before involving law enforcement

Research consistently shows that early exposure to the justice system increases the likelihood of reoffending. According to the National Juvenile Justice Network, unnecessary involvement of students in arrests and legal proceedings diverts them from education and rehabilitation and places them on a path toward incarceration instead.

Our schools must prioritize communication, intervention, and restorative practices, not criminalization. Madera Unified School District has an opportunity to lead by example and set a precedent for student-centered, trauma-informed, and just policies.

I urge Madera Unified School District, alongside local policymakers and community leaders, to revise the existing SRO MOU so no other family experiences unnecessary arrests, lifelong labeling, or preventable harm.

Sign this petition to support a more compassionate, thoughtful, and accountable policy—one that truly protects our students and their futures.