Criminalizing the Youth
Students within the United States are being criminalized and led to prison because they attend school.
Zero tolerance policies lead to the suspension and expulsion of students, mainly those who are underprivilged, at higher rates. They have een recently emploeyed and have increased suspension rates across all demographics (although Black and Latin students' suspension rates increased significantly greater than the rest).
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Although they make up 18 percent of students, Black students make up 46 percent of students suspended more than once.
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Police presence within schools has increased after the Columbine school massacre. Police are more present in schools with more Black and Hispanic students. This leads to more arrests within the school.
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A Texas study found that, of students expelled or suspended in middle or high school, 23 percent would deal with a juvenile probation officer while 2 percent of students that weren't would do so as well. The current disciplination methods for students are leading them into the criminal justice system as criminals.
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