"C'mon—You Should Know the Rules, Man": Latinx Youth's Perceptions of Procedural Justice and Chronic Punishment.

This article examines how repeated school punishments affect Latinx youth, referred to as the "chronically punished," within urban, racialized school contexts. Drawing on procedural justice theory, Latino Critical Legal Theory (LatCrit), and intersectionality, the study explores youths' perceptions of fairness regarding suspensions and expulsions, highlighting gendered differences in experiences and views. Findings indicate that repeated punishments often fail to deter deviant behavior, contribute to negative perceptions of school justice—especially among young men—and can escalate disengagement and criminalization, reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline. The authors recommend restorative justice approaches, culturally responsive conflict resolution, and reconsideration of zero-tolerance policies to promote equitable treatment and reduce punitive exclusion of Latinx youth.