NCJ Number
242375
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: October - December 2012 Pages: 357-375
Date Published
October 2012
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This research examined characteristics and outcomes of threats among students.
Abstract
Authorities in education and law enforcement have recommended that schools use a threat-assessment approach to prevent violence, but there is relatively little research on characteristics and outcomes of threats among students. The current study examined student reports of threat experiences in a sample of 3,756 high school students. Approximately 12 percent of students reported being threatened at school in the past 30 days, but only 23 percent of threatened students regarded the threat as serious and just 26 percent reported the threat to school authorities. Only 9 percent of students who received a threat reported that it was carried out. Five reasons why students did not report threats were identified. Logistic regression analyses identified student and threat characteristics associated with threat reporting and outcome. These findings provide new information about the prevalence and nature of student threats that can inform a threat assessment approach to school violence prevention. Published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis