An Inmate's Perspective

Abstract

Juvenile detention centers are currently overcrowded nationwide due to an influx in incarcerated youth. Suspensions and expulsion have been directly linked to the causation of the school-to-prison pipeline. This study aims to understand the root cause of incarceration better, what potential supports could have reframed these individuals from going to prison, and how to better support students moving forward. Also, to better understand how inequitable discipline policies, implicit bias, and school practices play integral parts in forming the school-to-prison pipeline, the focus of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of five formerly incarcerated individuals in Southeastern Louisiana. Key findings suggest that state and federal policy, environmental factors, and relevant evidence practices could serve as a starting point for reducing the number of students impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline.