South Bend says it hasn’t ended student-ticketing program

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – South Bend school officials say they haven’t abandoned a program that sparked a local outcry by ticketing students for bad behavior.

The South Bend Tribune reports police officers who patrol South Bend schools haven’t issued a single ticket to students this school year.

South Bend schools spokeswoman Sue Coney says the district is working with administrators to find other ways to crack down on misbehavior.

The South Bend Tribune reported in August that 278 tickets were issued to South Bend students, some as young as 10, over the previous four years. Those tickets were issued for actions such as fighting and smoking carried fines of more than $100 in some cases.

The newspaper found errors and inconsistencies in the ticketing process, spurring an outcry from residents and community groups.