NCJ Number
197912
Date Published
November 2002
Length
212 pages
Annotation
In presenting data collected by the 1999 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey, this document focuses on the prevalence of criminal victimization at school and students' perceptions of their school environment.
Abstract
In addition to data on the prevalence of criminal victimization at school, this report focuses on the characteristics of criminal victimizations at school; the availability of alcohol or drugs at school; the presence of street gangs at school; the presence of guns and weapons at school; the presence of hate-related words and hate-related graffiti at school; the prevalence of bullying at school; the prevalence of avoidance behaviors by students; the prevalence of fear at school and while traveling to and from school; and students' perceptions before and after the Columbine shootings. The SCS found that in 1999, 12.2 percent of students ages 12 through 18 reported experiencing any violent or property victimization at school in the previous 6 months. Specifically, 4.0 percent of students reported experiencing violent victimization at school, and 7.7 percent of students reported property victimization at school. Students who reported the presence of street gangs at school were more likely to experience any violent or property victimization at school (18.4 percent) than those who did not report gang presence (10.8 percent). Hispanic (28.3 percent) and Black, non-Hispanic students (24.7 percent) were more likely to report the presence of street gangs at school than were white, non-Hispanic students (13.1 percent). In 1999, 36.9 percent of 12- to 18-year-old students reported that drugs were available at school, and 20.2 percent of 12- to 18-year-old students reported that alcohol was available at school. Only 0.3 percent of students reported bringing a gun to school for protection in the 6 months prior to the interview. Students who reported violent victimization at school were more likely to report bringing a weapon to school for protection. During the past 6 months, 5.1 percent of 12- to 18-year-old students reported that they were bullied at school. Very few students practiced avoidance behavior due to concern that someone might harm them. Students who were interviewed after the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School were more likely to report fear of harm or attack at school (6.3 percent) than those interviewed before the incident at Columbine (4.8 percent). 23 tables, 51 figures and appended technical notes and methodology, 65 references, and 1995 and 1999 SCS questionnaires