Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

“Courts Igniting Change” conference: Redirecting the school-to-prison pipeline

The Washington State Minority & Justice Commission is inviting school administrators, law enforcement officials, judges, youth advocates and community leaders to an all-day action conference, “Courts Igniting Change,” on Oct. 10 in Seattle.

The conference will address what has come to be known as the “school to prison pipeline,” which describes the national trend in which students are funneled out of school through harsh discipline policies and practices and into the juvenile justice system.  Intervention and coordinated services developed collaboratively between schools and the juvenile justice system may be able to significantly reduce that “pipeline.”

“The commission is concerned about the apparent disproportionate impact on youth of color, not only in the school disciplinary system, but also in the juvenile justice system itself,” said Justice Charles Johnson, co-chair of the Supreme Court’s Minority & Justice Commission. “We know suspensions and expulsions often reduce future opportunities for all youth. We have committed to engaging with efforts and programs working to improve educational outcomes for all youth. Solutions require coordination and cooperation from all who have an interest in solutions that reduce court involvement, which often comes too late.”

Courts Igniting Change is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Seattle University’s LeRoux Conference Room. Advance registration by attendees is required by contacting Cynthia Delostrinos at Cynthia.delostrinos@courts.wa.gov.

The conference will include research exploring the school-to-prison pipeline issue, presentations on methods and programs that are working in other states, panels featuring youth, school administrators, law enforcement officials and judges, as well as opportunities to brainstorm new solutions.

“Courts Igniting Change” is sponsored by the Minority & Justice Commission, the Seattle Journal for Social Justice, the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, the Center for Children & Youth Justice, TeamChild, and the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice.

CONTACT:  Danielle Pugh-Markie, manager, Washington State Minority & Justice Commission, (360) 705-5290;  Lorrie Thompson, communications officer, Administrative Office of the Courts, (360) 705-5347.