Date

12-2021

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

First Advisor

Esmeralda Maldonado

Abstract

Young individuals are constantly being negatively impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline. It’s initial purpose was to ensure school safety but over time schools have been relying on police officers to deal with minor student behavior and actions. This has caused youth to be labeled as “troubled” and be pushed out of schools and into the prison system. This causes youth to develop mental and emotional distress and limits their opportunities at a brighter and successful future. MILPA Collective is a non-profit organization that facilitates rites of passage programs, as well as advocating to end mass incarceration by calling for the investment in education, job training and mental health. The programs and leadership department is the division that facilitates such programs to aid youth and young adults in finding life skills needed to pursue higher education through mentorship and internships. The project is an informational video meant to inform individuals on what the school-to-prison pipeline is, how it affects youth and their families and continues to affect them as adults. The project consisted of a video where MILPA staff who have been system impacted share their experiences with the school-to-prison pipeline. The project's findings were that more information needs to be shared on the school-to-prison pipeline to not only educate but also show that people are more than their actions and in some cases the record that follows them. One recommendation is to host more informational public meetings on the topic to encourage individuals to advocate against punitive measures.

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