The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed that Black, Latino and special needs students are referred to the police and court system at a disproportionate rate in most states.The Center for Public Integrity ranked states by their rate of referral for every 1,000 students.
Here are the 5 states with the highest proportion of minority and special needs students referred to law enforcement:
Virginia
- 25.3 Black students refereed per 1,000- Blacks represent 23.9 percent of school population
- 38.3 percent of referrals were of Black students
- 12.1 Hispanic students refereed per 1,000- Hispanics represent 11.8 percent of school population
- 9 percent of referrals were of Hispanic students
- 13.1 disabled students referred per 1,000- Disabled students are 14.3 percent *
- 30.1 percent of referrals were of disabled students
- 13.1 White students referred per 1,000 – White students are 53.5 percent of school population
- 53.5 percent of referrals were of white students
Delaware
- 23.1 Black students referred per 1,000-Blacks represent 32.1 percent of school population
- 50.6 percent of referrals were of Black students
- 13.5 Hispanic students refereed per 1,000- Hispanics represent 12.8 percent of school population
- 29.8 disabled students referred per 1, 0000 Disabled students are 16.7 percent of school population*
- 34.1 percent of referrals were of disabled students
- 9.2 White students referred per 1000- White students are 49.2 percent of school population
- 31.1 percent of referrals were of white students
Florida
- 19.4 Black students referred per 1,000- Blacks represent 22.9 percent of school population
- 36 percent of referrals were of Black students
- 10.5 Hispanic students refereed per 1,000 Hispanics represent 28.5 percent of school population
- 24.2 percent of referrals were of Hispanic students
- 16.5 disabled students referred per 1,000 – Disabled students are 14.3 percent of school population*
- 19.1 percent of referrals were of disabled students
- 9.9 White students referred per 1000 – White students are 42.4 percent of school population
- 34.1 percent of referrals were of white students
Wyoming
- 32.8 Black students refereed per 1,000- Blacks represent 15 percent of school population
- 4.2 percent of referrals were of Black students
- 17.4 Hispanic students refereed per 1,000 – Hispanics represent 12 percent of school population
- 17.6 percent of referrals were of Hispanic students
- 20.4 disabled students referred per 1,000- Disabled students are 15.2 percent of school population*
- 26.1 percent of referrals were of disabled students
- 10.7 White students referred per 1,000- White students are 79.8 percent of school population
- 71 percent of referrals were of White students
New Hampshire
- 19.3 Black students refereed per 1,000 – Blacks represent 2.1 percent of school population
- 3.5 percent of referrals were of Black students
- 10.8 Hispanic students refereed per 1,000 Hispanics represent 4.1 percent of school population
- 3.8 percent of referrals were of Hispanic students
- 23.6 disabled students refereed per 1,000 – Disabled students are 19.6 percent of school population*
- 39.4 percent of referrals were of disabled students
- 11.2 White students referred per 1,000- White students are 88.7 percent of school population
- 84.6 percent of referrals were of White students
(*Disabled combines students of all races)
To find your state go to: States with the highest referral of Black, Latino and Special Needs students to law enforcement
