Examining the Deterrent and Labeling Effects of School- versus Community-Based Juvenile Justice Referrals

• In Event: Police Contact and School- and Community-Based Court Referrals for Juvenile First-Time Offenders

Abstract

School districts across the United States have implemented zero tolerance policies to protect students from victimization. Proponents of these punitive measures cite a series of high-profile school shootings as justifications for increased security measures. Critics, however, argue that zero tolerance policies criminalize minor misbehavior that otherwise would have been handled informally by the school and as a result, funnel kids into the juvenile justice system. Research on the deterrent and/or labeling effects of juvenile court referrals has not addressed the pathways to desistence or continued offending that may be affected by the location of the referral. In addition, research on the impact of zero tolerance policies has not differentiated between similar students who were referred in school with those referred in the community to determine if schools are criminalizing minor misbehavior and thus perpetuating future offending. This study will test a series of research questions aimed at exploring differences in subsequent juvenile court referrals among Florida youth who were referred for the first time in school compared with those referred in the community. The findings from this study will contribute to our understanding of the potential consequences of zero tolerance policies and future juvenile offending.

Authors

• Julie Brancale, Western Carolina University

• Jennifer M. Brown, Florida State University

• George Pesta, Florida State University

• Mark Andrew Greenwald, Florida State University

• Sonja Siennick, Florida State University