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

American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy

ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)

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

  • Andrew Bacher-Hicks
  • Stephen B. Billings
  • David J. Deming
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (Forthcoming)

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. This paper assesses 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% more likely to be arrested and incarcerated as adults. Negative impacts on educational attainment are particularly pronounced for males and students of color.

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