NCJ Number
147021
Journal
Children's Legal Rights Journal Volume: 14 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (Winter/Spring 1993) Pages: 22-38
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Crime in schools is discussed.
Abstract
While the increase and seriousness of school crime has been well-documented, the effectiveness of the strategies employed to combat this problem need to be explored further. This article provides a brief background discussion of investigations of school crime including summaries of the results of the 1978 study, Violent Schools -- Safe Schools: The Safe School Study Report to the Congress, the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted in 28 cities over an 8-year period from 1974-1981, and the School Crime Supplement to the Survey. Strategies adopted by many school to reduce the prevalence of school violence include the use of metal detectors, fences, locked campuses, security cameras and other forms of environmental and/or technical enhancements; the use of private security forces; the use of mediation and conflict resolution programs; and the implementation of teacher training programs to detect and deal with problems before they erupt into violence. Examples of programs instituted in Illinois, California, Ohio, Hawaii, Florida, and Pennsylvania are described briefly. Legal problems raised by the various programs are cited. The authors urge further study to provide insight into the efficacy and impact of the various strategies.