Many Western education systems use out-of-school suspension as a tool within their behaviour management policies to remove children who exhibit problem behaviour.

This study examined associations between out-of-school suspension from primary school and early contact with police (by the age of about 14 years).

Longitudinal data from the New South Wales Child Development Study were used to determine the prevalence, pattern and association of suspension and police contact among 68,121 children.

Systemic intersectoral reform to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by enacting effective alternatives to suspension is required.

Key findings

• The odds of suspended children experiencing any contact were three times those of non-suspended children (controlling for multiple covariates).
• The odds of contact as a person of interest were six times those of non suspended students. 
• Dose-response relationships were evident with increasing suspension severity.