School-to-Prison Pipeline
Definition
Policies and practices that push students, particularly students with disabilities, out of schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Pipeline contributors include zero-tolerance discipline policies, school resource officers arresting students for minor infractions, expulsions and suspensions that lead to dropout, and inadequate support for students with behavioral health needs.
Louisville Context
JCPS has reduced suspensions and expulsions in recent years through reforms to discipline policies. Students who are suspended or expelled are significantly more likely to drop out, become involved in juvenile justice, and eventually be incarcerated—creating a literal pipeline from school to prison.
Why It Matters
The school-to-prison pipeline destroys lives and perpetuates injustice. When schools respond to misbehavior with exclusion and criminalization rather than support and intervention, they abandon students who most need help. Discipline driven by implicit bias must be disrupted through policy changes and cultural transformation.
My Proposal
While I can’t control JCPS discipline policies, I’ll expand alternatives to juvenile detention through Community Wellness Centers offering counseling, mentoring, and support for at-risk youth. I’ll work with JCPS to provide restorative justice programs and mental health services as alternatives to suspension. My approach treats misbehavior as a call for help rather than a crime.