Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Jeff Mellow

Committee Members

Brian Lawton

Heath Brown

Sophie Mitra

Subject Categories

Criminology and Criminal Justice | Disability Studies | Statistical Methodology

Keywords

School-to-Prison Pipeline, Disability, United States

Abstract

This research uses quasi-experimental, matched sampling to examine the school-to-prison pipeline for students with disabilities using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. This study presents novel insights into an at-risk group that has faced disproportionate rates of school discipline and incarceration. The study finds school suspension to be associated with future involvement in the criminal legal system and lower educational attainment. Disability was not found to mediate the relationship between suspension and future involvement in the criminal legal system or the relationship between suspension and academic outcomes. However, disability was found to be a statistically significant covariate of suspension in models estimating its effect on criminal legal involvement and various academic outcomes. These findings suggest the need for more research on the school-to-prison pipeline for students with disabilities and a closer look at school discipline policies as it relates to students with disabilities.

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