training schools, reformatories, and juvenile correctional facilities. These facilities are often reserved 
for youth who have committed serious offenses. They are similar to adult prisons but operate under a 
different philosophy. For example, incarcerated youth are still required to attend school, which is within 
the facility. 
Disproportionate Minority Contact: Considerable research on disproportionate minority contact 
has been conducted over the past three decades. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) “occurs 
when the proportion of youth of color who pass through the juvenile justice system exceeds the 
proportion of youth of color in the general population.” 
1 It can be assessed at every stage of the juvenile 
justice system, from arrest to adjudication. Research shows minority youth are over-represented in 
arrests, sentencing, waiver, and secure placement. States receiving federal grant money are required to 
address DMC  “regardless of whether those disparities were motivated by intentional discrimination or 
justified by ‘legitimate’ agency interests.” 
2 
In the News: The Prison Pipeline 
6-year-old Zachery Christy, a first grader in Newark Delaware, was suspended for 45 days for bringing 
a spork to school. The camping utensil, which contains a spoon, fork, knife, and bottle opener was a gift 
for Cubs Scouts. The first grader brought the camping utensil to school although the “dangerous weapon” 
violated zero tolerance rules at the school. 
“Spurred in part by the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings, many school districts around the 
country adopted zero-tolerance policies on the possession of weapons on school grounds. More recently, 
there has been growing debate over whether the policies have gone too far.” 
3 
Zero Tolerance policies are strict adherence to regulations and bans to prevent undesirable behaviors. 
The idea behind them is to promote student safety and to be fair and consistent with all children. The idea 
behind them is to promote a one size fits all approach, so as to treat all children equally, however, research 
suggests that minority youth are unfairly targeted by such practices, which counters the purposes of them. 
However, Zero Tolerance policies contribute to the school to prison pipeline. Children who interact 
with law enforcement at earlier ages are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system. 
What was thought to remove discretion from school administrators in issues of discipline, actually results 
in African American students being more likely to be suspended or expelled than other students for the 
same offenses? Additionally, the suspension or expulsion from school severs ties and harms the relationship 
youth have with school, making it harder for the youth to return and engage. 
For Zachary and his spork, it’s more than breaking his attachment to school and his teachers. He fears 
being teased by the other students. If his parents choose not to home school him, he must spend the next 
45 days in the district’s reform school. 
1. Short, J., & Sharp, C. (2005). Disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of 
America. 
2. (Johnson, 2007, p. 374). 
3. (Urbina, 2009, para 4). 
ALISON S. BURKE, DAVID CARTER, BRIAN FEDOREK, TIFFANY MOREY, LORE RUTZ-BURRI, AND SHANELL
SANCHEZ
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