Guidelines for Interviews of Students at School by Law Enforcement Authorities
Revised December 2025
Cooperation between school districts and the various law enforcement agencies in a community is vital to school safety and the administration of justice. To these ends, school districts and law enforcement agencies should cooperate with each other, within the confines of the law and consistent with their respective legal responsibilities.
This publication, Guidelines for Interviews of Students at School by Law Enforcement Authorities, is designed to assist law enforcement authorities and school officials in determining when it is appropriate for law enforcement authorities to interview students while the students are at school or participating in school-related activities.
It is recommended that these guidelines be supplemented with continued training to ensure that both students’ rights and law enforcement’s need for effective investigation are protected. School officials are also encouraged to consult board legal counsel as may be needed.
Contents include
School Officials’ Authority Over Matters Relating To School Discipline
Search and Seizure of Students by School Police Liaison Officers or School Resource Officers (SROs)
Interviews of Students by School Officials
Interviews of Students for Non-Law Enforcement Purposes by School Resource Officers (SRO) or Other School Security Personnel
Interviews of Students for Law Enforcement Purposes by Law Enforcement Authorities (Including School Resource Officers (SROs) and Other School Security Personnel) on School Property
Interviews of Students Suspected of Criminal Conduct by Law Enforcement Authorities (Including School Resource Officers (SROs) and Other School Security Personnel) on School Property
Attempts to Interview Students at School by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Arrest and Removal of Students from School
By Law Enforcement Authorities, Excluding ICE Agents
By ICE Agents
Sharing Of Information
Interviews and Examinations of Students at School by DCFS
Judicial Proceedings, Court Orders and Subpoenas
Guidelines for Interviews of Students at School by Law Enforcement Authorities
IASB expresses its gratitude to these Illinois Council of School Attorneys (ICSA) and others for their time and expertise in this project:
Committee: Cynthia M. Baasten, Engler Callaway Baasten & Sraga, LLC; Debra Jacobson, Illinois Association of School Boards; Megan D. Mikhail, Illinois Association of School Boards; Luis Rodriguez, Engler Callaway Baasten & Sraga, LLC; Zaria Udeh, Robbins Schwartz; Scott F. Uhler, Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd.; George A. Wagner, Klein Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd. The 2025 ICSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the 2025 ICSA Executive Committee provided peer review.
Original Authors: Heidi A. Katz and Caroline A. Roselli, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd; Hector L. Lareau; Law Office of Hector L. Lareau; Kimberly A. Small, Illinois Association of School Boards; Scott F. Uhler, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd.; George A. Wagner, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd.
Original Editors: Sara Boucek, Illinois Association of School Administrators; Heather K. Brickman, Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP; Michael J. Duggan, Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd. (1952-2014); Marcilene Dutton, Illinois State Board of Education; Kevin B. Gordon, Scariano, Himes and Petrarca, Chtd.; Mary Kay Klimesh, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP; J. Christian Miller, Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd.; Merry C. Rhoades, Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C.; Nanci Rogers, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd.; Brian D. Schwartz, Illinois Principals Association; Melinda L. Selbee, Illinois Association of School Boards; Patricia J. Whitten, Franczek Sullivan, P.C.; Peter K. Wilson, Jr., Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi & Andersson, P.C.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and Regional Superintendent of Schools participated in the original development of these guidelines to assist law enforcement authorities and school officials in determining when it is appropriate for law enforcement authorities to interview students while the students are at school or participating in school related activities.