The purpose of this paper is to show that race and socioeconomic status are factors that impact the decision making of student referrals to the legal system. Black, low income students are more likely to be referred to the legal system than white, middle class students. Black students are often labeled as aggressive and are expected to underperform. Black students receive more out of school suspensions and have a high number of school related arrests. This paper will show how the school to prison pipeline has a negative impact on children. Sending children to the legal system early only advances and encourages criminalizing behavior. The legal system contributes to significant increases in high school dropout rates and are more than likely
