Partnership Policies: Memoranda of Understanding and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Virginia

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-1 - An Examination of School Policies in Practice

Abstract

The term “school to prison pipeline” (STPP) refers to policies and practices, which increase the likelihood of school-aged children being forced out of school and into the criminal justice system This research, part of a larger mixed method study investigating pathways into the STPP in Virginia, was conducted as part of the National Institute of Justice’s Comprehensive School Safety Initiative. It reports on a content analysis of 82 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Virginia school divisions and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) engaged in School Resource Officer (SRO) Program partnerships. Findings suggest that while there is strong collaborative potential amongst VA school-LEA partnerships, there is a need for further inquiry about the way that they MOUs enacted.

Authors

• Kami M. Patrizio, Viginia Tech

• Gerard Lawson, Virginia Tech

• Megan Maher, Virginia Tech

• Patrick Rowley, Virginia Tech