The School-to-Prison Pipeline: Long-Run Impacts of School Suspensions on Adult Crime

Andrew Bacher-Hicks, Stephen B. Billings and David Deming

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2024, vol. 16, issue 4, 165-93

Abstract: Schools must balance student behavior management with the potential negatives of strict discipline. These policies can deter misbehavior but may stigmatize students and expose them to the criminal justice system early. We assess the impact of attending a strict discipline school on achievement, educational attainment, and adult criminal activity. Using data from a boundary change and principal switches, we find that higher suspension rates have significant negative long-term effects. Students at such schools are 15–20 percent more likely to be arrested and incarcerated as adults. Negative impacts on educational attainment are particularly pronounced for males and students of color.

JEL-codes: H75 I21 I28 J15 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Working Paper: The School to Prison Pipeline: Long-Run Impacts of School Suspensions on Adult Crime (2019)
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DOI: 10.1257/pol.20230052

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