The School-to-Prison Pipeline and Mental Health

BIPOC students face unequal disciplinary action in schools. Black students represent 39% of students suspended from school despite composing only 15.5% of all public school students. Schools are more likely to suspend and expel Black and Brown youth than White youth. This is referred to as the “school-to-prison pipeline.” Police presence, zero-tolerance discipline, and lack of adequate resources in schools are also factors.

The Juvenile (In)justice System

BIPOC youth with mental health issues are also more likely than White youth with the same issues to be sent to the juvenile (in)justice system instead of being sent to get care. Once in the juvenile (in)justice system, BIPOC youth are less likely to be treated for mental illness than white youth. Trauma as a result of prison conditions and treatment while imprisoned can directly impact mental health.

Criminalization* of Mental Health

It’s no surprise, then, that prisons and juvenile detention centers in the U.S. are filled with people suffering from mental illness. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of access to mental health care, criminalization of mental illness, and racism that exists in both the health and legal systems. Families of people who are imprisoned are also affected. For example, they might have lost a main source of income, which can take a toll on their mental health.

We Can Stop the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Through policy advocacy, we can demand expanded access to quality mental health care and resources in schools. Money used for school police could be diverted to hiring mental health professionals (and especially mental health professionals of color) to provide needed support to students.This would help more youth avoid interactions with police.

*Mental health and addiction are some of the only health issues criminalized in the United States. It is estimated that 900,000 people with mental illness end up in jails every year.