Project Director

Deardorff, Michelle D.

Department Examiner

Horne, Christopher; Mauldin, Marcus; Strickler, Jeremy

Department

Dept. of Political Science, Public Administration and Nonprofit Management

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This project sought to examine if and how school-based mental health service accessibility affected long-term student interactions with the criminal justice system. The study is both quantitative and qualitative; it researched existing literature and theories on the subject matter and also sourced over 750 data points published by varying organizations and agencies. By using proxy data including school guidance counselor-to-student ratios, out of school suspension rates, and juvenile court referrals, this research tested whether or not a direct relationship existed between the number of school counselors and both out of school suspensions as well as juvenile court referrals. The findings largely indicated that race and economic levels, respectively, most directly related to the suspension rates examined. This aligned with previously published research and working theories in the field, but limitations in data specificity prevented fuller exploration of the impact that mental health could have on school disciplinary outcomes and longer-term interactions with the justice system.

Acknowledgments

I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Michelle D. Deardorff who offered invaluable advice, support, and guidance in the process of completing this research. Additionally, I wish to thank my committee, the members of which invested significant time and energy in the betterment of this project and in me as a scholar.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

5-2021

Subject

Juvenile justice, Administration of; School mental health services; Public schools--Tennessee

Keyword

education; guidance counselor; mental health; pipeline; school; school-to-prison pipeline; school discipline

Discipline

Criminology and Criminal Justice | Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Document Type

Theses

Extent

[i], 37 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

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