Before the Civil Citation Initiative began in
2007, a student who was involved in common
school misbehavior was not only suspended, but arrested
– this means being handcuffed during school, put in the
back of a police car, hauled to jail, fingerprinted, booked
and put behind bars.
The student also got an arrest record that could negatively
impact entry into military service, law school, medical
school, and many government jobs. A record also can prevent
the student from obtaining a license for careers such
as a nurse, teacher, public accountant, daycare worker,
and EMT/paramedic; or for jobs like pest control, cosmetologist,
dental hygienist, and landscape architect click
here for a complete list. Furthermore, a record could
prevent the student from renting an apartment.
If a student is repeatedly involved in common school misbehaviors
(more than two instances), he/she does not meet the eligibility
requirements for a civil citation.
The majority of the students issued a civil citation simply
made an error in judgment, and they complete the requirements
of the civil citation and continue on with their education
without incident. For other students, however, the common
school misbehavior is a result of personal mental health
issues or problems at home, such as domestic violence
or a parent with a substance abuse problem. In these instances,
the student and family are provided with additional resources
to address the core problems.
The Civil Citation Hillsborough (CC Hillsborough) strongly
believes in separating kids and teens who act their age
and make mistakes, from others who have committed serious
offenses.
CC Hillsborough also strongly believes that students who
commit serious offenses -- violent misdemeanors, all felonies
and illegal drug and sex offenses – should NOT be eligible
for a civil citation and they should be arrested and face
the legal consequences.
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