California settles to reimburse youths cited under San Bernardino’s CleanSWEEP program
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department that will allow former participants in the now‑defunct CleanSWEEP student citation program to seek refunds of fines and have their citations dismissed.
The settlement ends a program that ran from 1997 to 2022, issuing tickets to students ages 10‑17 for low‑level offenses on school grounds. The Department of Justice began investigating the program in 2022, and the sheriff’s office halted it that same year, formally ending it countywide in January 2024.
Who can apply for relief
If you received a citation from the sheriff’s department while under 18 for any of the listed offenses, you may be eligible. Eligible offenses include daytime loitering on school grounds (citations after Dec 20, 2002), tobacco‑related offenses (after June 9, 2016), fighting or disturbing the peace on school grounds, or any offense when you were under 12 (after Jan 1, 2019). You must have paid a fine or have a pending matter related to the citation.
- 1Gather your citation and any proof of paid fines
- 2Contact the sheriff’s department by email, phone, or mail
- 3Submit your claim by April 18, 2027
- 4Provide any additional information if requested
Source: California Attorney General
How to submit a claim
Claims must be filed by April 18, 2027. Contact the sheriff’s department by email (crcoordinator@sbcsd.org), phone (909‑387‑3406), or mail to Miles Kowalski, 655 East 3rd St., San Bernardino, CA 92415. Provide proof of the citation, any fines paid, and any pending case details. If you cannot locate proof, the department will help verify the information. For accessibility needs, call the ADA coordinator at 909‑386‑8655 or 7‑1‑1.
What the settlement means
The agreement also requires the sheriff’s department to revise training, policies, and data monitoring to prevent future unlawful citations. The local school district has shifted to trauma‑informed and restorative practices instead of ticketing. Affected youths can now potentially erase a criminal record and recover money spent on fines.
While the settlement does not constitute legal advice, anyone with a citation should consider consulting an attorney to ensure the claim is properly filed and to discuss any lingering legal consequences.
What this means: our conclusions
- Good newsRefunds and dismissals now possible
Former CleanSWEEP participants can recover money and clear their records, reducing long‑term impacts of youthful citations.
- What to doLimited eligibility window
Claims must be filed by April 18, 2027, so affected individuals need to act quickly to avoid losing the opportunity.
- ContextProgram termination signals policy shift
The settlement shows a move away from punitive school‑based ticketing toward restorative approaches.
- What to watchPotential ripple effect for other districts
Other counties may face similar scrutiny, prompting broader reforms in student citation practices.
- What to doLegal help can smooth the process
Consulting a lawyer can help ensure documentation is complete and advise on any remaining legal issues.
- settlement oag.ca.gov
- eligible for reimbursement of any related fines and fees and dismissal of the citation oag.ca.gov
- the Sheriff's Department oag.ca.gov
- Chaffey Joint Union High School District oag.ca.gov
- the District oag.ca.gov
This article is general information based on California Attorney General and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 28, 2026.
Source: California Attorney General
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