The school-to-prison pipeline: Recommendations for early intervention programming for juveniles involved in fights

Abstract

Disruptive and violent behaviors are not a new problem that school administrators are dealing with. Although, the method by which those behaviors are dealt with has evolved over time. The implementation of exclusionary zero-tolerance policies has increased in recent years. This practice has been found to be more detrimental to students and their learning. The adverse effects of these policies may have also contributed to an increase in referrals to juvenile court services. Students who become involved in juvenile court are less likely to maintain employment in the future and more likely to become further involved in the justice system. Professionals in the field have coined the term school-to-prison pipeline to describe this growing problem. As such, the purpose of this research is to address the ways in which schools can intervene and manage fights and violence at school, while reducing the short and long-term negative impacts on students.