NCJ Number
193486
Date Published
2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the history and incidence of school violence.
Abstract
During the 1997 to 1998 school year, four incidents resulted in multiple deaths and focused attention on the problem of violence occurring on school property. Concern focused on the role of firearms because all the incidents involved this weapon type. Each incident involved perpetrators who carried out an act of violence at their own school. Each perpetrator was a young male whose behavior much earlier in his life was a warning sign. Concern about this problem began to emerge in the late 1970's. A study indicated an increase in violent incidents on school property, highlighting the fact that students were more likely to be victims of crime at their own schools than at any other place. The Gun-Free Schools Act (GFSA) was enacted in 1994 in response to the heightened concern about weapons on school property. This law requires all school districts in the State to expel from school for at least 1 year any student who brings a firearm onto school property, and report this information to the Secretary of Education. Two years of reporting for the GFSA have been completed to date. In the 1996 to 1997, an estimated total of 6.093 students were expelled from school for bringing a firearm or other weapon to school. Of those expelled, 56 percent were high school students, 34 percent were junior high or middle school students, and 9 percent were elementary school students. Wyoming and Hawaii had no expulsions for that school year. Fifty-eight percent were handguns, 7 percent were rifles, and the remaining 35 percent were other types of firearms such as bombs, grenades, starter pistols, and rockets. Ohio, California and Colorado appear to have exceptionally high rates of expulsions. Through mapping, it is evident that these school shootings are happening in small cities and towns previously thought to be safe, secure environments. 2 figures, 10 references