Toward Safe and Orderly Schools--The National Study of Delinquency Prevention in Schools, Research in Brief

• NCJ Number: 205005
• Date Published: November 2004
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Research in Brief
• Grant Number(s): 96-MU-MU-0008; 98-JN-FX-0004
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This report presents the findings from a national, federally funded study which surveyed school staff and students on school safety and the programs used to prevent problem behavior and promote a safe school environment.

Abstract

Schools are expected to provide a safe environment and to play an active role in socializing children for their participation in society. In 2000, a federally funded study was conducted to examine delinquency prevention in schools. The study surveyed principals, teachers, program implementers, and students on what the schools were actively doing, through programs, to prevent problem behavior and promote a safe and order environment. The study found that even though nearly all United States public schools were using a variety of delinquency prevention programs and disciplinary practices, most schools were using prevention practices that were either unproven or known to be ineffective. The effective implementation of prevention programs was also limited. The study examined various prevention activities utilized and the percentage of schools using them, as well as successful and unsuccessful program implementations. Ideas and suggestions were presented for the successful implementation of prevention programs which included: focusing on schools with the greatest need, starting within the school, improving training and supervision, involving school staff, the community, and experts, and using more promising practices. Exhibits