Blocking the Pathways
Eradicating the School to Prison Pipelines
November 1, 2019 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
Friday Courtroom | UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
Webcast: University of Arkansas Law School, Room 102
Free | Open to the public | Registration required | 5.0 hours CLE, 0 hours Ethics
The “school-to-prison pipeline” is the name for the phenomenon in which youths from disadvantaged backgrounds are channeled out of the education system and into the juvenile criminal justice system. In pipeline schools, “zero-tolerance” policies for misbehavior turn minor infractions into criminal activity, and students who would benefit the most from school support and counseling are pulled out of class and punished. Students of color and those with learning disabilities are more likely than others to receive punishment, and this discriminatory discipline hinders its victims later in life.
The goal of this symposium is to debate the causes and solutions to the pipeline problem, with an eye toward the best solution for Arkansas. Topics to be addressed include racial disparities in the pipeline, school policing, mental health, and creating positive school climates. Panels will be composed of academics, advocates, and attorneys. Questions about the symposium can be directed to the symposium editor, Amanda J. Partridge (ajpartridge@ualr.edu).