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IU McKinney Program on Law and State Government Fellows Heather Kinser and Marcus McGhee shared their research on the problems and potential solutions concerning the school-to-prison pipeline during the PLSG Symposium on September 25.

Titled “Rupturing the School-to-Prison Pipeline: State Government Efforts toward Expungement Reform,” the daylong event featured scholars and practitioners sharing their expertise on the subject.

McGhee, who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in political science, and a master of public administration with a concentration in homeland security, kicked off the symposium by presenting his paper titled “More ‘Resource’ Less ‘Officer:’ Suggestions Toward Rebalancing the Roles of the School Resource Officer.”

The panel immediately following McGhee’s address discussed the topic “Current Record Keeping Techonology—Harmful or Helpful?” Panelists included Clinical Associate Professor of Law Carolyn Frazier of Northwestern University School of Law; Associate Professor of Law Kevin Lapp of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles; and Deputy Prosecutor Jordan Stover, ’10, of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

The keynote address, “From Criminal Justice to Human Justice: Building a Future Beyond Prison for All Youth,” was delivered by Kyung-Ji Kate Rhee. Rhee is the deputy director for the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions in Brooklyn.

Kinser, a 14-year veteran of teaching in public schools, began the afternoon with a presentation of her scholarship titled “A Legislative Proposal for Automatic Expungement.” She holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and elementary education, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

The panel immediately following Kinser’s address examined the topic, “Collateral Consequences: From Adolescence to Adulthood.” Panelists included Associate Professor of Law S. David Mitchell of the University of Missouri School of Law; Associate Professor of Law Lahny R. Silva of IU McKinney; and Associate Dean and Professor of Law andré douglas pond cummings of Indiana Tech Law School in Fort Wayne.

The final panel of the day discussed “Indiana’s Efforts to Rupture the School-to-Prison Pipeline. Panelists included Chief of Police/School Resource Officer Robert W. Bowser III of Irvington Community Schools Police Department; Judge Gary Chavers, ’78, chief magistrate of the juvenile division in Marion Superior Court; and JauNae M. Hanger of Waples & Hanger and founder and president of the Children’s Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana.

Closing remarks, “How State Governments Can Level the Playing Field,” were delivered by Professor Cynthia Baker, PLSG director.

In the photo in the front row from left are Mitchell, Silva, and cummings. In the back row from left are Frazier, Lapp, Stover, Rhee, Kinser, Baker, and McGhee.