WI24-01: The Effects of Special Education on Crime

Youth with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, yet there is limited evidence on interventions that can reduce criminal justice interactions for this vulnerable group. Our project investigates the impact of Special Education (SE) program participation in public schools on crime outcomes. We utilize unique administrative data linking schooling, criminal conviction, and employment records from Texas, combined with a policy change that capped SE enrollment at 8.5%. We estimate the impact of SE losses for students, with a focus on low-income and racially minoritized students. Considering the significant employment barriers faced by individuals with criminal records, our findings will provide valuable insights into whether SE can improve employment opportunities for disabled youth through reductions in interactions with the criminal justice system. Furthermore, our paper will provide descriptive evidence on the interaction between SE and SSI, shedding light on the potential compensatory role of SSI for losses in SE access.