Role of the School in the Prevention of Crime

• NCJ Number: 77372
• Journal: Scottish Association for the Study of Delinquency Issue: 7 Dated: (October 1980) Pages: 2-28
• Author(s): Anonymous
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Scottish Assoc for the Study of Delinquency
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Papers from the Glasgow Branch Conference of the Scottish Association for the Study of Delinquency, held June 5, 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Annotation

This volume presents the texts of four presentations at a Scottish conference of professionals concerned with the role of the school in crime prevention efforts.

Abstract

Speakers represented an association of delinquency researchers, the children's hearing system, police officers, the press, and educators. The opening speaker notes the rise of crime among school-age children and emphasizes the resulting need for a cooperative relationship between law enforcement officers and schools. Representing the children's hearing system, the second speaker contrasts the differences in attitude between educators who express the need for punishing deviant and disruptive students and the hearing system, which acts in the 'best interests of the child,' often without applying punishing sanctions. These differences are explained with reference to the concepts of 'contextual' and 'impersonal' punishment; the former is deemed more effective because it stems from the immediate environment of a child's social context. A police officer's presentation emphasizes the increasingly good rapport between the police and schools resulting from the assignment of liaison officers for promoting good relations and dealing with matters of truancy, vandalism, or theft. From the educator's perspective, crime prevention is a goal of the school system, but must be reinforced through parental involvement in promoting children's social and moral awareness of children. School and family interaction should be aimed at providing children with senses of security, love, guidance, and self-worth. The concluding speaker, representing the press, proposes a reevaluation of traditional values associated with school and stemming from the compulsory nature of schooling. The school system is seen as institutionalized and in need of new avenues of communication with the understanding of the young. A membership application form to the Scottish Association for the Study of Delinquency and news of the association's branches are appended.