BIO

My name is Camila Maldonado, I am a second-year student at Florida State University majoring in Political Science and Criminology with a minor in communications from Orlando, Florida.
At the Department of Sociology, I conduct a legal analysis on punishment in low resource Florida schools and the variation of incidents reported to law enforcement and how it contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. Through data collection and freedom of information requests, I am exposing the relationship between financial inequities and institutional actions.
At the Department of Political Science, I conduct research as an Honors in the Major examining the crisis at the United States and Mexico border, focusing on conditions within migrant detention facilities, violence and exploitation targeting vulnerable populations, and health risks confronting migrants. I also explore how migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and drug trafficking intensify the crisis. I aim to inform policy recommendations and interventions to defend the well-being of migrants through an analysis of interconnected issues.
I plan to pursue a Juris Doctorate in hopes of becoming an immigration lawyer, with a strong commitment to social justice and providing legal representation for those who lack a voice and struggle to assert their rights.

Punishment in Florida School's: Variations in Incidents Reported to Law Enforcement

Abstract

After Senate Bill 7026 or the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act was passed, Florida's School Resource Officer (SRO) program was given a funding boost. The issue of SROs in schools is divisive since the data on their effectiveness is inconsistent. Some scholars advise against the influence of these programs and suggest that they contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline, while others advocate for their role in guaranteeing safety and reducing delinquency. This case study examines the impact of Florida’s SRO program by comparing the percentage of infractions reported to law enforcement as well as punishment disparities between low- and high-poverty schools within the Leon County District in the State of Florida. Responding to research that examines key legal decisions shaping educational disparities and the school to prison pipeline, research findings illustrate a potential connection between residential segregation, school resource disparities, and punishment. By examining the relationship between financial inequities and institutional actions with far-reaching implications, the study seeks to highlight the urgent need for systemic reform in school safety and punishment.

Keywords: School, School Resource Officer, Law enforcement, Poverty