Researcher ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8200-2090
Graduation Year
2021
Date of Submission
5-2021
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
Reader 1
Professor Costanzo
Terms of Use & License Information
Abstract
Many scholars have hypothesized the existence of a school to prison pipeline (STPP) – a phenomenon that describes how particular school policies and practices have inadvertently created a pathway from schools to the juvenile criminal system. The pipeline disproportionately affects certain communities and has serious short- and long-term consequences for students. This paper explores the validity of the hypothesized pipeline and examines three underlying mechanisms: zero-tolerance policies, school safety, and school culture. After reviewing the research literature on these three mechanisms, I conclude that there is evidence for both STPP risk and STPP protective factors embedded within the school system. This paper reviews case studies of STPP program initiatives in several school districts and concludes that there is sufficient support for the existence of the pipeline. Specific recommendations for educators, schools, and researchers are discussed. By understanding the underlying factors and the complexities of the STPP, greater work can be done to dismantle the pipeline and to provide a more inclusive and equitable education.
Recommended Citation
Camarena Castillo, Roxanne, "Challenges within the Education System: An In-Depth Analysis of the School to Prison Pipeline in the United States" (2021). CMC Senior Theses. 2682.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2682
