Resources

Jail for Fines Wastes Taxpayer Dollars and Harms Public Safety. Fine-only offenses, such as traffic tickets and city ordinance violations, are misdemeanors that are intended by Texas law to be punishable by only a fine and no jail time. These cases are handled by municipal and justice courts.

The Problem: Austin ISD uses harmful classroom removals, like out-of-school suspensions, to punish very young students. Black students and students who receive special education services are overrepresented in this discipline system. Austin ISD’s youngest students are facing in-school and out-of- school suspensions and alternative school placements for completely age appropriate behaviors and for behaviors that should be addressed with services and positive supports.