Dissertation
Visualizing the school-to-prison pipeline and the Impact of adverse childhood experiences on employment and recidivism
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006375
Abstract
There were over 10 million arrests made in 2019; nearly 700,000 were youth, indicating a need for reform within the justice system. Despite many of these arrests being adults, we see that experiences in early childhood may influence contact with the justice system. While it is difficult to understand all trauma exposure, the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) score shows abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, have a dose-response relationship with unfavorable outcomes (i.e., justice involvement). Behavioral problems, such as delinquent behavior, are linked to detention or suspension from school starting at age five. This relationship is called the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). While this is a consequence of overly punitive school discipline and law enforcement policies, the STPP can help understand needs and develop plans for the entire system. The overall goal of this dissertation is to identify strategies to reduce recidivism rates and improve social outcomes among justice-involved youth.
The first study examines the association between ACEs and outcomes in youth exiting a juvenile detention center. ACEs were prevalent in this population (90%) and nearly half of the participants had high ACE exposure. This cohort also had a high prevalence of recidivism (94%) and high employment at follow-up (87%). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to provide adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between outcomes (i.e., recidivism, employment) and age, gender, and ACE exposure. Youth with high ACEs (4+), males, and older youth (14-18 years old) were more likely to recidivate when compared to those with low ACEs, females, and younger youth, respectively. Those older youth were also more likely to have employment at follow-up.
The second study examines the use of systems thinking principles among stakeholders in the STPP to better inform tactics for primary prevention and improve outcomes. Using thematic analysis of four focus groups, we examine the use of these principles by participants (n=18) representing various professions along the STPP in Cook County, IL. All eight principles were present, proving the STPP is a complex system with connections that span different organizations, communities, and families. Findings highlight the need for communication, collaboration, understanding cultural backgrounds, assessing resources, seeking new resources and funding, and interacting with the community.
The third study assesses perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to dismantle the STPP. The same stakeholders shared similar comments for each domain, regardless of their profession. However, a traditional SWOT analysis alone cannot provide contextual feedback. Focus groups offer useable penetrating insights for strategic planning.
The findings from this study provide a high-level understanding that organizations share more than just clients. They share many of the same problems, so well-planned solutions can have a broad and significant impact. This study provides a basis for developing early prevention for injury and violence in the community setting. Despite exposure to ACEs, the justice system, and the school-to-prison pipeline, hopeful outcomes (e.g., employment) are possible. This study can improve occupational and environmental health initiatives by developing the workforce early as possible, addressing trauma, providing support, and instilling resilience.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Visualizing the school-to-prison pipeline and the Impact of adverse childhood experiences on employment and recidivism
- Creators
- Robyn Oriel Espinosa
- Contributors
- Carri Casteel (Advisor)Corinne Peek-Asa (Committee Member)Armeda Wojciak (Committee Member)Brandi Janssen (Committee Member)Chris Veeh (Committee Member)Jonathan Davis (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006375
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xiii, 132 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2022 Robyn Oriel Espinosa
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- illustrations, tables, graphs
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 106-124).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
- There were over 10 million arrests made in 2019; nearly 700,000 were youth, indicating a need for justice reform. Despite many of these arrests being adults, we see that experiences in early childhood may influence contact with the justice system. While it is difficult to understand all trauma exposure, adverse childhood experiences show that abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction are associated with unfavorable outcomes (i.e., poor behavioral choices, justice involvement). Behavioral problems (i.e., delinquent behavior) are linked to detentions and suspension starting at age five and a lifetime of increased likelihood of justice contact. This relationship is called the school-to-prison pipeline. While this is a consequence of overly punitive discipline policies, the school-to-prison pipeline can help understand needs for the entire system. Therefore, an evaluation of potential causes of justice-involvement in at-risk youth and identify systems that can be used to intervene along this path. The overall goal of this dissertation is to identify strategies to reduce recidivism rates and improve social outcomes among justice-involved youth. We do this by (1) examining the association between ACEs and outcomes in justice-involved youth; (2) exploring the use of systems thinking principles among stakeholders; and (3) assessing perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. This work adds to the growing knowledge of adversity in youth and the identification of a complex system surrounding youth. Furthermore, this study can improve initiatives to developing the workforce early as possible, addressing trauma, providing support, and instilling resilience.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984271353802771
Metrics
273 Record Views