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Are Schools Stricter at the Border? Investigating the Relationships Between School Strictness, Juvenile Justice, and the Border

NCJ Number
309184
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 2 (SI) Dated: April 2024 Pages: 165-186
Author(s)
Kay S. Varela; Janice Iwama; Miner P. Marchbanks; Krystlelynn Caraballo; Anthony A. Peguero; Jamilia Blake; John M. Eason; Jun Sung
Date Published
April 2024
Length
21 pages
Annotation

This paper addresses two questions on the potential links between school strictness, immigration, juvenile justice referrals, and location; it examines the difference between school strictness and juvenile referrals in border and non-border schools; and discusses findings on both strict and lenient school disciplinary practices and their relationships with juvenile justice referrals.

Abstract

Immigration disparities are associated with strict school climates and juvenile justice. Place also matters concerning school strictness and disproportionate minority contact for minority youth. What remains unknown is the relationship between school strictness, immigration, and punishment along the Texas-Mexico border. Drawing from the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS), the authors address two questions regarding the relationship between school strictness and juvenile justice referrals in border and non-border schools. First, do the relationships between school strictness and juvenile referrals differ between border and non-border schools? Second, does school strictness moderate the children of immigrants’ juvenile justice referrals at border and non-border schools? Findings indicate border and non-border distinctions regarding both strict and lenient school disciplinary practices and the relationships with juvenile justice referrals. This study contributes to juvenile justice research by investigating potential links between school strictness, immigration, juvenile justice referrals, and place. (Published Abstract Provided)