Unit 6: The American Legal System Masseny Kaba F Block

School-to-prison pipeline The school-to-prison pipeline is a system that tries to make public safety policies. It pushes students out of school and into the Criminal Justice System. Majority of times the pipeline affects youth of color more than other youth. The pipeline starts off at falling public schools. Then, kids get in more trouble because there is a zero- tolerance rule. With that rule students get suspended, expelled, and other consequences. After, the students get expelled or suspended the zero-tolerance rule causes them to get sent to disciplinary schools and the same thing happens there. The students then either get pushed out or drop out. Most students that drop out become criminals or juveniles and go to jail.

Consequences for getting involved in the school-to-prison pipeline There are many consequences that students face with the school-to-prison pipeline. One consequence they face is the Zero-Tolerance and other School Disciplinary. That means if the students break a school rule they may get suspended or expelled. Another, consequence the students have to face is the Disciplinary Alternative Schools. With this consequence in some jurisdiction students who have been suspended or expelled have no right to an education at all. The last consequence the may face is policing school hallways. With this consequence more students attend jail because the rise in school based arrest route from classroom to jailhouse. Also, children are more likely to be a subject to school based arrest because the increased reliance on police. Those are consequences of the School-to-Prison pipeline for students.

School-to-prison pipeline at TBA Tech Boston Academy contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline in many ways. One way I think TBA contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline is they use the zero- tolerance rule. That causes a lot of kids at school to get suspended and many drop out because of this or either get pushed out. Another way TBA contributes to the school- to-prison pipeline is by policing school hallways. The school cops are always ready for anything bad to happen to make the arrest and take the students away. The last way TBA contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline is they use other school discipline. Students getting expelled affects their after life/future and majority of times they are the ones that drop out or become criminals.

The Juvenile Justice System Do you know what the juvenile justice system is? Well, the juvenile justice system is to provide help to juveniles in trouble not to punish them. There is 5 steps of the Juvenile justice system. The first step is arrest and intake. That’s when people have the power to decide what they want to do with you. Then, they get an intake whether or not you should go to court. If you do go to court it’s called the Initial Hearing. With this step the judge must be convinced that the law was broken or not. If the probable is to believe you go to juvenile hall if not you may go back home. If the judge believes there is a probable cause you have to go to a Adjudicatory Hearing. This is the third step that takes place in trial. There is no jury but you may have an attorney. After the hearing the judge decides the sentence which is also known as The Dispositional Hearing. Later on you have an opportunity for an after care. The purpose is to help young people after they have been released from an institution and are assigned a parole officer.

Caught up kids in the Justice System Many kids get caught up in the juvenile system. If they do get caught up the first thing they have to do is attend court. When they attend court there is an Arrest and Intake which you have to go to. You may either be free to go or get a sentence to go to jail.

Challenges Juvenile justice system faces 7 Challenges Juvenile justice system faces The juvenile justice system faces a lot of challenges. In the movie “Juvies” one girl had to face a sentence for life because she was driving the vehicle when a crime happened. Now, she doesn’t have a life anymore and has to face a challenge that she will basically be in jail for the rest of her life. They also have to face discrimination based on statistics that majority kids that go to jail are black/ African- American students and are most likely the ones to drop out.

My Alternative and Disciplinary plan for school

Zero Tolerance Policies Zero-Tolerance rules that shouldn't exist well in my opinion. They make students get in more trouble with this rule. The students get suspended more because of this policy and then they end up dropping out or being pushed out. This rule doesn't let students do anything for themselves because they would end up getting in trouble or have a consequence. It is not a good policy and shouldn't exist. Also, the zero-tolerance policy isn't putting a end to violence in schools. This policy is the main reason why students drop out or go to jail. It doesn't teach children a lesson about the consequences of their actions.

Disciplinary Hearing Process A Disciplinary Hearing process is when you go to a hearing to consult with the members of your organization, team, etc to decide on the punishment that is going to be given. When student, parents, teachers, discipline, and principals come together to talk about suspensions or expulsions I think it should look like a bunch or people trying to be organized and civilized. They should all be able to speak and say what they all have to say not just certain people. The adults of that group should give the students the right to talk and say what they have to because majority of times they don't let that happen.

Connecting students to school so they don't feel pushed out There is a lot of things schools need to do so students don't feel pushed out. Pushed out is when you are being pushed out by force. One way I think we can change schools from pushing out students is by changing the zero-tolerance policy rule. I think they should change this because if a student is getting hurt or bullied in school they won't be able to defend their self because of the zero-tolerance policy which pushes out the student. Another way schools can prevent students from being pushed out is by changing school policing. I think that they should change school policing hallways because they really don't do anything. They do not prevent fights from happening because that’s what students mostly get suspended for. We should also change educating students and teachers. They need to do this because there is a lack of qualified teachers which qualifies students not to get a good education. Schools need to have less officers in order to prevent push-outs. This is because when you have a lot of police officers around kids they get use to getting disciplined by police officers. Also, because police officers intend to push-out students and they send them to jail. The last thing schools need to do in order to prevent push outs is to motivate the students. They need to motivate them to let them know they are great students and could do a lot and acting up in school or quitting on yourself isn't right.

The process for pushed out students When students are feeling pushed out I think the process for students to communicate with teachers and principals about how they feel is to have faith and trust that they will help solve the situation. Also, for the teacher and principal to ask questions about why they feel like they are being pushed out, etc. The principal and teachers are going to have to ask them if they need anything or support. The school should bring up the parents and have a meeting with them to let them know how their child feels and what they need to do to help. This is going to take some time. It may or may not be a easy process depending on the person.