Students in highly segregated schools tend to commit more crimes, according to a new working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

“Concentrating disadvantaged youth together in the same schools and neighborhoods increases total crime,” a trio of researchers write. “These youth are more likely to be arrested for committing crimes together – to be ‘partners in crime.’ … Policies that increase residential and school segregation will – all else equal – increase crime through the formation of denser criminal networks.”