The School to Prison Pipeline is the process by which children are funneled from the public education system into the criminal justice system. This process begins with zero tolerance school discipline policies that push children out of schools and into the juvenile justice system. Once in the juvenile justice system, children are more likely to be incarcerated as adults.
There are many factors that contribute to the School to Prison Pipeline, but one of the most significant is zero tolerance school discipline policies. These policies mandate strict punishments for even minor infractions, such as dress code violations or being late to class. These policies disproportionately affect children of color, who are more likely to be suspend or expelled than their white counterparts.
Zero tolerance policies not only push children out of schools, but they also increase the likelihood that children will be arrested and incarcerated. Once in the juvenile justice system, children are more likely to be tried as adults and sent to prison.
The School to Prison Pipeline is a major contributor to mass incarceration in the United States. It disproportionately affects children of color, who are more likely to be suspended or expelled from school and end up in the criminal justice system. To end mass incarceration, we must address the School to Prison Pipeline.
According to a new study, the school-to-prison pipeline refers to the alarmingly increasing number of students who come into contact with juvenile criminal justice systems as a result of stringent zero tolerance policies put in place by schools. The zero tolerance regulations act as a blanket disciplinary policy, removing pupils from their educational environment due to misconduct. Students may be placed in school suspension classes, suspended for three to five days from school, or sent to an alternative institution.
The problem with these punitive disciplinary approaches is that they are not effective in stopping the bad behavior, and may even lead to an increase in criminal activity. The United States Department of Education has shown that removing students from their regular educational environment for more than ten days increases the chances that the student will drop out of high school. The American Psychological Association has also found that suspensions and expulsion do not improve school safety, but instead lead to more involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Zero tolerance policies were created in response to the horrific shootings that have occurred in schools over the past two decades. School administrators, policymakers, and parents are desperate to find a solution to preventing future tragedies. However, these punitive policies are not the answer. School shootings are a complex issue that cannot be solved by simply expelling or suspending students. In fact, research has shown that such policies can actually lead to an increase in violence.
It is time to rethink the school to prison pipeline and move away from punitive disciplinary policies that do not work. We need to invest in prevention and early intervention programs that address the root causes of misbehavior. We also need to create positive school climates where all students feel supported and respected. Only then will we see a decrease in the number of students who are funneled into the juvenile justice system.
Schools employ police officers to assist maintain order among pupils. The authority of school administrators, instructors, and staff is no longer regarded as the disciplinary power by students.
Zero tolerance rules have led to harsh penalties for many pupils for committing relatively minor crimes that should not be criminalized in the first place. With minor misconduct that deserves little attention being treated the same as major offenses, might schools ultimately be held accountable for students ending up in the criminal justice system?
School to prison pipeline (STPP) is the name given to the United States educational system that funnel students, particularly students of color and students with disabilities, out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The STPP has three main parts:
1. School policies and practices that push students out of school, such as zero tolerance discipline policies and high-stakes tests;
2. The overuse of exclusionary discipline measures, such as suspensions and expulsions, that lead to School-to-prison pipeline 3. The involvement of law enforcement in schools, which leads to arrests and referrals to juvenile court.
The first step in addressing the School-to-prison pipeline is acknowledging that it exists. Too often, the STPP is viewed as an issue that only affects certain groups of students. However, the STPP is a nationwide problem that impacts all students.
School-to-prison pipeline refers to the policies and practices that push students out of school and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. These policies and practices include zero tolerance discipline policies, high-stakes testing, and the overuse of exclusionary discipline measures, such as suspension and expulsion.
The School-to-prison pipeline disproportionately affects students of color and students with disabilities, as they are more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white counterparts. In addition, the involvement of law enforcement in schools leads to arrests and referrals to juvenile court, which also disproportionately affects students of color.
The School-to-prison pipeline is a nationwide problem that requires a nationwide solution. Addressing the School-to-prison pipeline will require commitment from everyone, including educators, policymakers, and parents. We must work together to create a system that ensures all students have access to a quality education.
Zero tolerance policies are school policies that mandate harsh punishment for any rule violation, no matter how minor. These policies were introduced in the 1990s as a way to increase school safety and reduce crime. However, research has shown that zero tolerance policies do not make schools safer and may actually lead to more crime.
For many reasons, I am concerned about the school-to-prison pipeline. I’m pursuing a degree in education and will one day be working with kids in a classroom setting. It is critical that schools provide and maintain a secure learning environment for students to develop into well-educated, functioning adults. I also have children who attend educational institutions, and it is critical that they have the greatest chance of getting an education in a safe, pleasurable atmosphere possible.
There have been countless cases of young, innocent children being targeted by the school to prison pipeline. These children are disproportionately students of color, and come from low-income families. They are often labeled as “problem students” and are victims of racial profiling (Doj). Once they enter the school to prison pipeline, it becomes increasingly hard for them to escape.
Schools are criminalizing normal childhood behaviors, such as horse playing and using words like “boo” or “baddie” (Flam 3). The American Civil Liberties Union released a report in which found that black students were three times more likely to be suspended than their white counterparts, even though they commit crimes at similar rates (ACLU).
