Dept of Justice Sues State of Mississippi over "School to Prison" Pipeline [View all]

[2on2u]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/10/26-4

Dept of Justice Sues State of Mississippi over "School to Prison" Pipeline
Alleges African-American and disabled students systematically targeted, rights violated
- Common Dreams staff

The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday sued the state of Mississippi, the city of Meridien, the county and several state agencies, alleging they "help[ed] to operate a school to prison pipeline" that routinely violated the rights of African-American children and children with disabilities in the city of Meridien.



In this September photo, Ella Townsend of Meridian, Miss., said she worries that if her son, Lionel, 13, gets in trouble at school again, he could be sent to prison and do time with dangerous adults. (Photo: Maggie Lee / Juvenile Justice Inforation Exchange) "As a result," the court filing states, "children in Meridien have been systematically incarcerated for allegedly committing minor offenses, including school disciplinary infractions, and are punished disproportionately without due process of law. The students most affected by this system are African-American children ann children with disabilities."