NCJ Number
53227
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 13 Issue: 52 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 675-686
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF ADOLESCENT DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, POSSIBLE CAUSES, AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO REDUCE AND PREVENT NORM-VIOLATING BEHAVIOR IN THE NATION'S SCHOOLS ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
STATISTICS PUBLISHED IN 1976 BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS IN THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION INDICATE THAT 73 PERCENT OF ALL SCHOOLS EXPERIENCE A MAJOR CRIME EACH SEMESTER. THE NATIONWIDE RATE IS 6.8 PERCENT OFFENSES PER 1,000 ENROLLMENT. RECIDIVISM RATES AMONG ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS HAVE INCREASED TO 85 PERCENT, AND THE AVERAGE AGE FOR FIRST INCARCERATION IS BELOW 13 YEARS. ALTHOUGH SCHOOL SIZE, SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY LOCATION, AND COMMUNITY ECONOMICS ARE RELATED TO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, THE FREQUENCY OF SCHOOL VANDALISM DIFFERS WITHIN THE SAME CITY IN AN UNPREDICTABLE FASHION. EXTERNAL FACTORS SUCH AS GEOGRAPHIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, AND COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS ARE NOT STABLE PREDICTORS OF SCHOOL-DIRECTED VANDALISM OR VIOLENCE. THIS SUGGESTS THAT INTERNAL FACTORS WITHIN A SCHOOL MAY BE THE DECISIVE PARAMETERS CONTRIBUTING TO IDENTIFIABLE MOTIVATORS OF SCHOOL-RELATED CRIME. ADOLESCENTS ARE MOTIVATED TO PARTICIPATE IN DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR BY FINANCIAL OR PROPERTY GAIN, THE PURSUIT OF A SOCIAL CAUSE, NONMALICIOUS PLAY, UNFULFILLED OR UNMET EMOTIONAL NEEDS, POOR SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT, OR GANG AFFILIATION. TWO MAJOR PROGRAM THRUSTS HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING SCHOOL-RELATED NORM-VIOLATING BEHAVIOR: (1) TECHNOLOGICAL OR ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROTECT BUILDING STRUCTURES, CONTENTS, AND PEOPLE; AND (2) PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR BEFORE IT HAPPENS THROUGH THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, INTERACTION BASED ON GROUP WORK, CURRICULUM INTERVENTIONS, AND CAREER EDUCATION. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)