Petition to End Police-Issued Tickets for Student Behavioral Infractions in Rockford Public Schools
We, the undersigned, demand an immediate end to the harmful practice of police-issued tickets for student behavioral infractions in Rockford Public Schools (RPS 205).

The Problem
Right now, students in Rockford are being ticketed by police for minor school-based infractions, leading to nearly $60,000 in fines for families in just three years. (Northern Public Radio, 2025)

This practice disproportionately affects students of color and those from low-income families, subjecting them to unnecessary financial and legal burdens. A federal civil rights complaint filed in 2024 alleges that Rockford Public Schools' reliance on police for discipline has unlawfully targeted Black students with tickets and arrests. (ProPublica, 2024)

Instead of addressing student behavior through counseling, mediation, and restorative justice, Rockford’s policies are criminalizing children for actions that should be handled by educators, not law enforcement. Research has shown that punitive measures like ticketing do not improve school safety or student behavior but instead create long-term negative consequences, including lower graduation rates and increased juvenile justice involvement. (U.S. Department of Education, 2014)

Our Demands
We call on Rockford’s leaders to take legally viable and immediate action:

1. Mayor Tom McNamara & the Rockford Police Department
The Mayor, as the chief executive of Rockford, must direct the Rockford Police Department (RPD) to cease issuing municipal tickets for minor school-based behavioral infractions.
The Mayor and RPD must work with the Rockford Public Schools Board to develop alternative policies that prioritize student support rather than criminalization.

2. Rockford City Council
The City Council should pass an ordinance prohibiting RPD from issuing tickets for non-criminal school-based infractions, ensuring that behavioral issues are handled by educators and school staff.
The Council must work with state legislators to support Illinois House Bill 3412, which seeks to ban school-based ticketing across the state. (My Journal Courier, 2025)

3. Rockford Public Schools Board of Education
The Board of Education should implement policies replacing ticketing with evidence-based restorative justice programs, counseling, and mental health services.
The Board should revise agreements with RPD to limit police involvement in minor disciplinary matters, ensuring school administrators and counselors take the lead in student discipline.

Why This Matters
Illinois legislators are already considering a statewide ban on school-based ticketing. Rockford should lead the way in reform, not lag behind. Our children deserve an education system that uplifts them, not one that subjects them to fines, legal troubles, and unnecessary police interactions.

With the 2025 elections approaching, Rockford’s voters are watching. We will support leaders who commit to real change and hold accountable those who refuse to act.

📢 Sign this petition today and demand a better future for Rockford’s students!