Mass Incarceration In Schools

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The United States of America is the world’s leader in incarceration. There are nearly 2.2 million individuals currently in prison or jail (Zuckerman). This problem of mass incarceration in the United States is not due to an increasing crime rate, but rather due to changes in laws, policies and an increase in sentencing. This problem has spilled over into our schools. The school-to-prison pipeline is a theory that refers to the policies that force our American youth out of the school system and into the justice system of America. Many policies; including No Child Left Behind, have resulted in encouraging drop out rates for the most at risk students. Also the zero tolerance policy plays a major role because students face harsh punishments for rather non-serious acts like bringing scissors or Advil to school, which may result in an expulsion. These students are forced out of school due to being expelled, which puts their education at risk. These students are then pushed down the hypothetical pipeline and into the juvenile court system for many reasons by being out of school. Once their …show more content…

This profit has totally impacted the problem of mass incarceration and targeting children to place in this system. Mass incarceration is hurting the future of our nation because it is creating problems with our youth and the quality of how they are educated. Individuals that are educated and complete their education do not return to prison nearly as much as the individuals that do not have an education. This shows the direct correlation that education plays on an individual in society. But the government is the one that’s responsible for denying these individuals a fair chance at receiving this ever important education. We must help our youth and end the unfair policies that the government has in place that is just creating a revolving door in our prisons

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