by Mackenzie Dupre
Education Over Incarceration – The Campaign to End Youth Criminalization
According to the Movement for Black Lives, “black youth are systemically profiled and targeted by police, and make up 35% of arrests of people under 18; twice as likely to be arrested as white youth; disproportionately tried as adults; twice as likely to be sentenced to life without parole; five times as likely to be incarcerated or committed; more likely to be sent to adult facilities, and to be held in solitary confinement.” Racial disparities in the criminal justice system mean that black youth have a much greater likelihood of incarceration over second chances and equal opportunity. Black youth are more likely to be charged as adults and receive life without parole than their white counterparts. “Once arrested, young Black people are less likely to be diverted from the system, more likely to be referred to a juvenile court, and are more likely to be processed through the system than their white peers,” (Movement for Black Lives).
The zero-tolerance policy, which is common in Massachusetts public schools, promotes punishment and imprisonment over second chances and supports. Young people need to thrive and learn from their mistakes. Incarceration exacerbates the educational and economic disparities that black youth face by putting them at risk for: sexual violence, trauma, losing housing or employment, securing or maintaining immigration status, and educational disadvantages (Movement for Black Lives).
In order to equip youth with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive, we need to promote education over incarceration. We should give youth second chances before sending them down the school-to-prison pipeline.
According to Citizens for Juvenile Justice, "The ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ is, in reality, two pipelines that combine to drive students out of the classroom, away from a pathway to success, and towards or into the juvenile or criminal justice system.” The first pipeline removes students from the classroom, via suspensions or expulsions, where they are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system. The second pipeline arrests students for minor infractions that could be handled in a more efficient manner. Not all students are punished in the same manner. Implicit biases come into play when schools are deciding whether to issue warnings or calls to law enforcement. “Far too often students of color, students with disabilities, and students that are impacted by trauma are disproportionately disciplined and arrested rather than receiving the support and services that allow them to remain in the classroom and continue to make educational progress,” (Movement for Black Lives).
Community organizers in Massachusetts are working to gain bill support for legislation that reduces the catastrophic impact of the school-to-prison pipeline. Young adults who have a criminal record have numerous barriers standing in their line of opportunity. “Criminal records can make it difficult for young offenders to find a job, get into college, or borrow money,” (Citizens for Juvenile Justice). One proposed solution was implementing sealing or expungement of criminal records. “States where there are minimal administrative barriers to sealing and/or expungement of juvenile records have significantly reduced re-arrest/recidivism rates and increased college graduation and incomes as these young people transition to adulthood,” (Citizens for Juvenile Justice).
To find more information about I Have a Future’s campaign to end youth criminalization, check out their website. If you are curious about legislation you can support to reduce the negative impacts of youth criminalization, feel free to check out: An Act to Promote Public Safety & Better Outcomes for Young Adults (S.825/H.3240) & An Act to Reduce Recidivism among Emerging Adults (H.1486/S.940).
Comments