There are 6 million students in a school where there is a School Resource Officer (SRO) — usually an armed member of law enforcement — but no school psychologist on staff, according to a recent Brookings report. The Center for Public Integrity reveals that in the 2017-18 school year alone, almost 230,000 students were referred to law enforcement. These statistics are often used to illustrate the consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline. But what is the school-to-prison pipeline? Sociologist Mark Warren defines it as “an interlocking system of policies and practices that push students of color from low-income communities out of […]

This article is the first in an ongoing series featuring different models of diversion programs, which redirect youth from justice system involvement and its host of harmful effects. Through articles and interviews, we will explore the many incarceration alternatives and prevention programs and highlight efforts in our own communities that are already committed to providing a just future for our youth The United States admits over 200,000 youth into juvenile detention centers per year. This statistic is unsettling, but more so is that this system isn’t working — in some states, recidivism rates are as high as 80% for youth […]

On May 22, 2021, Daryll Hayes’ name was read out loud and his picture was displayed in front of his friends and family. Unlike in his court hearing, this time his name was accompanied by cheers, a sense of pride and a diploma in Faith and Community Leadership. After 26 years in prison— five of which were spent in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI), his undergraduate program — Daryll Hayes became a college graduate.  Now, almost a year after his release from prison, Hayes has a diploma, but he has struggled to find employment and stable housing. “Graduation and being […]

Society must urgently recognize human trafficking as a multifaceted problem which merits an exhaustive response from government and civil society. One survivor—16-year-old Mary McDowell from Sachse, Texas—shared her story with me. Mary was not only a victim of sex trafficking, but also of a system that failed to identify and respond to her crisis in a way that would restore her comprehensive health and reintegrate her into her community. The response she received from law enforcement, coupled with the inadequate training of medical professionals and community leaders, was insufficient to help her find healing and justice. In a world where […]

Clinics for the supplemental nutrition program at WIC are set to reopen this summer in Multnomah County. This is good news for residents of Rockwood, Oregon, a community in Multnomah County that greatly depends upon WIC’s services. For those who don’t already know, WIC is the acronym for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Multnomah County’s website announced plans to help all WIC recipient families gradually return to in-person office visits by August of this year. This will be majorly advantageous to the area’s WIC program, as WIC office closures created a major obstacle for program […]

Young adults, particularly those aged 18 to 25, face unique challenges within the criminal justice system, often overlooked in policymaking due to their age. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “Thrive by 25” initiative aims to change that by focusing on strengthening communities for children and youth transitioning into adulthood.