Punishing Latina/o Youth: School Justice, Fairness, Order, Dropping Out, and Gender Disparities

• In Event: Latina/o Criminology Panel 2: Schools and Social Control

Abstract

Although Latina/o youth are one the fastest growing segments of the United States population, Latina/o youth face a number of educational hurdles, such as dropping out of high school and disproportionate school discipline. This topic is particularly relevant today in the midst of the current social, political, and economic debate over the “school to prison pipeline.” This study draws from the Educational Longitudinal Study and utilizes multilevel modeling to analyze the relationships between school justice, fairness, order, dropping out, and gender disparities for 1,800 Latina/o and 6,300 White public school students. Findings suggest that school discipline is contributing to the increased odds of Latina/o youth from dropping out; however, it is also evident that improving school justice and fairness can ameliorate the risk of dropping out for Latina/o youth. The significance and implications of justice, fairness, and order, for Latina/o youth within the United States school system are discussed more generally.

Authors

• Zahra Shekarkhar, Fayetteville State University

• Anthony Peguero, Virginia Tech

• Jennifer M. Bondy, Virginia Tech