Crime and Education

In 1998, students ages twelve through eighteen were victims of more than 2.7 million crimes at school, of which 253,000 were serious violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault). (Kaufman, P. et al. 2000. Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2000. NCES 2001-017/NCJ-184176. Washington, DC: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.)

In 1998, there were sixty school-associated violent deaths in the United States. Forty-seven of these violent deaths were homicides, eleven were suicides, and one teenager was killed by a law enforcement officer in the course of duty. (Ibid.)

At the middle and high school levels, physical attack or fight without a weapon was generally the most commonly reported crime in 1996-97 (9 and 8 per 1,000 students, respectively). (Ibid.)

Between 1995 and 1999, the percentage of students ages twelve through eighteen who said they felt unsafe while at school decreased (from 9% to 5%), as well as those who felt unsafe while going to and from school (from 7% to 4%). (Ibid.)

Between 1995 and 1999, the percentage of students ages twelve through eighteen who avoided one or more places at school for fear of their own safety decreased, from 9% to 5%. This percentage, however, represented 1.1 million students in 1999. (Ibid.)

In 1999, about 13% of students ages twelve through eighteen reported that someone at school had use hate-related words against them. That is, in the prior six months someone at school called them a derogatory word having to do with race/ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, about 36% of students saw hate-related graffiti at school. (Ibid.)

Since the 1992-93 school year, there has been at least one multiple victim homicide event each year (except for the 1993-94 school year). The number increased from two events in 1992-93 to five events in 1997-98. (1999 Annual Report on School Safety, Joint Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.)

In 1997, there were 63 thefts for every 1,000 students (ages twelve to eighteen) at school. Theft accounted for about 61% of all crime against students at school that year. (Ibid., 4)

The overall crime school crime rate between 1993 and 1997 declined, from about 155 school-related crimes for every 1,000 students ages twelve to eighteen in 1993 to about 102 such crimes in 1997. Crime victimization outside of school declined from about 139 crimes for every 1,000 students in this age group in 1993 to 117 such crimes in 1997. (Ibid.)

In 1997, 5% of all 12th graders reported that they had been injured on purpose with a weapon such as a knife, gun, or club during the prior twelve months while they were at school. (Ibid., 5)

Gangs reportedly operate in 41% of urban schools, 26% of suburban schools, and 20% of rural schools. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. February 1999. Promising Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)