Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2002

• NCJ Number: 196753
• Date Published: November 2002
• Length: 180 pages
• Publication Series: BJS Bulletins
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population. A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, the report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools.

Abstract

Presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population. A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, the report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools.

Information was gathered from an array of sources including:

- National Crime Victimization Survey (1992-2000)

- School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (1995, 1999 and 2001)

- Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001)

- Fast Response Survey System: Principal/School Disciplinarian Survey on School Violence (1997)

- School and Staffing Survey (1999-2000).

• Crime in schools continues to decline. Violent victimization rates for students varied from a high of 59 violent victimizations per 1,000 students in 1993 to a low of 26 per 1,000 students in 2000.
• The percentage of students who said they were victims of crime at school, both violent and property crimes, decreased from 10% of all students in 1995 to 6% in 2001.
• In 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001, between 7 and 9 percent of students reported being threatened or injured in the previous 12 months with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property.