The Punishment Gap: Racial/Ethnic Comparisons in School Infractions by Objective and Subjective Definitions

Abstract

This research examines the differences between ethnic groups when school infractions are subjective/objective. Using school discipline incident data, eight categories of infractions are analyzed: disobedience, violence, substance abuse, vandalism, theft, truancy, safety, and miscellaneous. Within these eight categories there are 32 specific infractions. Specific infractions were then classified as either subjective or objective by a committee. Population proportion criteria (PPC; minus or plus 10% of a group’s overall population) is used. Findings indicated that only black students exceeded the criteria with infractions having subjective definitions. All other groups only exceeded PPC with infractions having objective definitions.

Notes

¹ See 18 U.S.C.§ 922 and Safe and Drug–Free Schools and Communities-Gun-Free Schools Act, 20 USCA §7151 (2006).

² No Child Left Behind Act, Unsafe Schools Choice Option (USCO), title IX, part E, subpart 2, Section 9532.

³ See 2006 Louisiana Laws-RS 17:416-Discipline of Pupils; suspension; expulsion.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Craig J. Forsyth

CRAIG J. FORSYTH is Professor of Sociology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 1983. He is the author of over 200 journal articles and book chapters. He is the author of The American Merchant Seaman: Struggle and Stigma (Taylor & Francis, 1989); co-author (with Anthony Margavio) of Caught in the Net: The Conflict Between Shrimpers and Conservationists (Texas A&M Press, 1996); and co-author (with Heith Copes) of Encyclopedia of Social Deviance (Sage Publications, 2014). His principal research interests are in the areas of deviance, delinquency, and crime.

Raymond W. Biggar

RAYMOND W. BIGGAR is the Project Director for Criminal Justice at the Picard Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is currently a Ph.D. student in psychology.

York A. Forsyth

YORK A. FORSYTH is currently a Ph.D. student in Political Science/International Relations at the University of New Orleans. He expects to finish in 2015. He is experienced in handling and merging large data sets. He has published articles on international maritime piracy, game wardens, international conflict, and juvenile delinquency.

Holly Howat

HOLLY HOWAT has a Ph.D. in speech science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is Director of the Juvenile Appraisal Center; Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.