“Gotta watch my back or something:” LatCrit, system-impacted youth, and safety.

• In Event: Latina/o/x Criminology Panel 4: Adaptative Strategies for Survival

Abstract

Purpose of the study: To research perceptions of school safety for system-impacted Latinx youth.
The Research Problem: To study how community dynamics, school context, gang membership, and type of school inform how youth perceive school safety.
Study Design: This study utilized 24 semi-structured interviews with system-impacted youth. Interviews were conducted by teachers who worked daily with detained youth. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis.
Major Findings: Non-gang members felt less safe in the community than gang members. Non-gang members felt safer in traditional schools because of fewer perceived threats, and school officials provided protection. Gang members perceived traditional schools as unsafe because of rivals' threats of violence. In carceral schools, both nongang members and gang members perceived carceral schools as unsafe, and school securitization increased perceptions of safety, especially for female youth.
Interpretations and Conclusions: System-impacted Latinx youths’ perceptions of safety are informed by individual or community-driven strategies and school climate. Our findings illustrate the need to further study how perceptions of school safety are informed by neighborhood, school climate, gang, and gender dynamics.

Authors

• Edwardo L. Portillos, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

• Anthony Peguero, Arizona State University