NCJ Number
139012
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Twenty-seven high school principals completed a questionnaire for a study designed to examine the incidence of violent acts and other types of malicious conduct by students in selected rural Tennessee public schools over a three-year period.
Abstract
A total of 229 violent acts were committed by students: 1 murder, 2 armed robberies, 1 reported rape, 129 acts of vandalism, 86 threats against teachers, 1 case of arson, and 9 acts of physical abuse. Most students who committed disruptive acts were from single parent families or otherwise "broken" home situations. Perpetrators were assigned to probation or were sentenced to a state penal institution for youth or adult offenders. Several guidelines may help to decrease school violence: controlled access to school buildings and other facilities, proper identification of students and visitors, adequate supervision and observation techniques, programs designed to meet diverse student needs, student and parent input into school rules and regulations, regular reporting of misconduct, cooperation with law enforcement agencies and positive security planning, meaningful school board policies and involvement, and the availability of counselor and other qualified personnel to respond to student needs. 1 table and 2 references