Summary of School Safety Statistics

• NCJ Number: 250610
• Date Published: July 2017
• Author(s): Mary P. Carlton
• Length: 12 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report poses some common questions and beliefs about school-safety statistics and provides evidence that either supports or dispels each of them.

Abstract

In asking whether or not school crime is increasing, the report indicates that although violent crime against students increased from 2010 to 2013, the violent crime rate in 2013 was still lower than in 1992, and students' fear of being harmed at school has also decreased since the 1990s, based on data collected from school administrators and students. In addressing the question as to whether school shootings have increased, the report indicates that although there have been a number of high-profile school shootings in the United States over the past several years, homicides at schools are rare, and students are also less likely to be threatened or injured with a weapon (gun, knife, or club) at school than 10 years ago. In addressing the question as to whether violence at school is a new phenomenon, this report indicates that school violence is not new; however, national data collection on school violence did not begin until 1989. Another question asks whether school shootings are an urgent concern to school officials. The report indicates there are no national data on how concerned school officials are about shooting; however, national surveys and other research suggest that school officials are more concerned about school shootings today than several years ago. In answering a question about whether a school shooting or other traumatic event could happen in one's school, the report indicates that a violent death at school, such as being shot, is rare, but bullying that may involve threats of harm occurs regularly in schools. Data indicate that threats, bullying, and harassment occur in person and via various technologies, including social media. 11 references