My Infographic of The School-To-Prison Pipeline Theory

Imagine a path where kids, KIDS, especially those from minority communities, are pushed from school straight into the hands of the law. That's the school-to-prison pipeline, a heartbreaking reality where some students face a higher risk of getting in trouble and ending up in the criminal justice system instead of thriving in school. It's like a cycle of punishment that hits these kids hard, often simply because of where they come from. This isn't just about breaking rules; it's about breaking dreams and opportunities, a creating a lifetime of hardships. We need to open our eyes to this problem, feel the impact it has on young lives, and work together to break the cycle.

This troubling cycle results from a combination of punitive disciplinary measures: zero-tolerance policies, systemic inequalities within the education system, 3 strike rules, decreased access to services for minority students with language and learning disabilities, suspension, expulsion, over-policing, insufficient school funding, dearth of school counselors and social workers, etc. The pipeline not only exacerbates existing social disparities but also diminishes opportunities for these students, reinforcing a destructive cycle that needs urgent attention and systemic change.

Schools are meant to be safe places where children go to learn and develop. How can the same institution that promises that, also be an institution that follows this pipeline?! Take a look at the infographic to see how these school policies truly affect children's lives. 

1.7 Million

Students are in schools with police but no counselors. 

73%

36% of Chicago Public Students are Black, but Black students account for 73% of school-related arrests in Chicago. 

30%, 51%, 23%

Suspended Students are: 

30% more likely to to be arrested once 

51% more likely to be arrested 2+ times and 

23% more likely to be in prison