Students in Illinois can be fined up to $750 by the police for non-criminal, school-based behaviors, requiring them to attend local administrative hearings that lack any due process protections. This process is called ‘municipal ticketing.’
Meet Marla and Amara
Marla Baker’s daughter, Amara Harris, was having a normal day at school until she was accused of stealing another student’s AirPods in 2019. Despite Amara explaining to school administrators that the incident was a simple misunderstanding, the school’s resource officer still issued her a municipal ticket accompanied with a fine. Marla, a Naperville resident and staunch advocate for her daughter’s rights, decided to fight the ticket with Amara instead of letting her daughter be punished for something she didn’t do.
Hear Their Story
Transcript
Hello, my name is Marla Baker.
On August 19th 2023 Amara, our family, and I experienced an emotional milestone. After four long years of legal battles, countless court appearances and enduring the scrutiny of five judges and six jurors, a jury found Amara not liable for theft, a charge that had been wrongly brought against her by her school resource officer in Naperville, Illinois.
The case began when Amara, as a high school junior, unknowingly identified another student’s AirPods as her own while in the midst of searching for hers. Even after the dean clarified the mix up and Amara provided proof she owned a pair herself, the school resource officer still issued her a municipal ordinance violation for theft, citing his own discretion to do so, as he stated in trial. This unjust charge caused Amara immense stress and anxiety.
Despite her achievements as a high honor roll student, teacher assistant, and excelling as a cheerleader, her future was clouded by the threat of legal repercussions that could jeopardize her collegiate prospects and scholarships. She developed severe anxiety, depression, and lost trust in authority. This experience revealed a systemic issue. The harsh and often discriminatory practices affecting students, particularly Black and brown children.
Our children need leaders with hearts, not punitive measures that erode their trust in the system and cause them to feel demoralized.
Affirm you stand against predatorial and damaging practices and your commitment to justice and support for all of our children. Be their heroes and sheroes. Thank you.
Take Action
Stand Illinois is committed to preventing more cases like Amara’s where students are unjustly ticketed and forced to endure court hearings, time away from the classroom, and steep fines. The first step toward this goal is making known the impact this practice has on our communities. Join us in sharing Marla and Amara’s story so we can raise awareness about municipal ticketing in our schools.
Help us raise awareness around municipal ticketing by sharing Marla and Amara’s story.
Join us in signing a pledge to stand up against the unjust practice of municipal ticketing and work toward creating learning environments that leave students and teachers feeling supported.
How have you, your student, or your family been impacted by unfair punitive discipline practices? Share your story using our online video collector!
Learn about our Youth Justice initiatives, including advocacy around municipal ticketing, and find out how you can get plugged in.
