NCJ Number
56396
Date Published
1979
Length
58 pages
Annotation
VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA ARE USED IN THIS REPORT TO EXAMINE CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATIONS THAT OCCURRED INSIDE SCHOOLS IN 26 AMERICAN CITIES. THE SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED IN 1974 AND 1975.
Abstract
AN ESTIMATED 270,000 PERSONAL VICTIMIZATIONS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED INSIDE THE SCHOOLS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AND THE REPORTED CRIMES CONSTITUTED 8 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION IN THESE 26 URBAN AREAS. MOST OF THE SCHOOL CRIME WAS EITHER PETTY THEFT OR ASSAULT RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY TO THE VICTIM. LARCENY WITHOUT CONTACT BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER ACCOUNTED FOR 55 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION IN THE CITIES, BUT FOR 81 PERCENT OF THE PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION THAT OCCURRED INSIDE THE SCHOOLS. THE SECOND MOST COMMON INSCHOOL CRIME WAS ASSAULT. WEAPONS WERE NOT OFTEN USED IN THESE INSCHOOL VICTIMIZATIONS. STUDENTS WERE THE MOST VICTIMIZED GROUP, AND YOUNG MALES (BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITIES) WERE REPORTED AS THE MOST COMMON OFFENDERS. A MAJORITY OF OFFENDERS WERE STRANGERS TO THEIR VICTIMS ALTHOUGH THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THEY WERE NOT FELLOW STUDENTS. NINE OUT OF TEN CRIMES SUFFERED BY STUDENTS AND THREE OUT OF FOUR CRIMES SUFFERED BY TEACHERS WERE NOT REPORTED TO POLICE BECAUSE THE VICTIMS PERCEIVED THE OFFENSES AS BEING TOO SLIGHT OR BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT POLICE COULD DO NOTHING TO SOLVE THE CRIME. VICTIMS OF RAPE, ROBBERY, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO MENTION FEAR OF REPRISAL AS A REASON FOR NOT REPORTING THE OFFENSE. THIS REPORT CONTAINS FURTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NATURE, EXTENT, AN SERIOUSNESS OF INSCHOOL CRIME, THE REPORTING OF INSCHOOL CRIME TO THE POLICE, AND AN ANALYSIS OF CHARCTERISTICS OF INSCHOOL VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)