English Awarded National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship
HPP doctoral student Faith English awarded a graduate research fellowship from the National Institute of Justice
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Faith English, a doctoral candidate in Health Promotion and Policy, has received a two-year graduate research fellowship from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The $111,000 award will support her dissertation research examining whether proportions of school-based discipline for cannabis-related incidents among youth under age 21 have changed as cannabis policies have become increasingly liberal in Massachusetts between 2005-2021.
NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Its graduate research fellowship program supports doctoral students engaged in research that advances NIJ’s mission to improve knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science, thereby increasing the pool of scholars engaged in research that addresses the challenges of crime and justice in the United States, particularly at the state and local levels.
Recent findings by English and faculty advisor Jennifer Whitehill on youth marijuana usage have shown that high school students in Massachusetts were no more likely to use marijuana after legalization. However, it’s not clear how changes in cannabis policies and school-based discipline have been affected.
In her current research, English is investigating the sociodemographic characteristics of school districts with relatively high and low proportions of school-based discipline, incorporating a community-engaged research approach to explore youth perceptions of and experiences with school-based discipline for cannabis offenses. In collaboration with a youth advisory board, she is conducting in-depth interviews with persons under age 21 regarding their high school experiences with disciplinary matters.
“Existing research has shown that school suspension and expulsion during adolescence is associated with multiple adverse outcomes such as not completing high school and later involvement with the criminal justice system,” says English. “The ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ has increased youth involvement in the criminal justice system, as schools have adopted zero tolerance for drug possession and use on school grounds. These policies have disproportionately affected youth of color and youth from urban settings, with higher rates of suspension, expulsion, and criminal justice involvement, despite rates of drug use that are similar to or lower than white youth.”
English added that in some states, the legalization of cannabis for persons aged 21+ is associated with a decrease in arrests among adults, but the evidence among youth is mixed. With her dissertation research, English will examine the relationship between these policies and risks of disciplinary action for youth.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to have amazing mentorship from my advisor, Dr. Jennifer Whitehill, as well as my dissertation committee members who have provided me with invaluable feedback as I have pursued external funding,” says English. “Additionally, participation in the Center for Research on Families Graduate Student Grant Writing Program, led by Dr. Rebecca Spencer, provided me with intensive, structured grant writing support – I never could have done it without her!”