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This summary is excerpted from Chapter 3 of the Annual Report on School Safety, a collaborative effort by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. The report provides parents, schools, and communities with an overview of school crime, and describes steps schools and communities can take to address it.

Chapter 3 presents summary information on model programs that have demonstrated success or are promising in addressing the problems and issues related to school crime. The models presented have been designated as either demonstrated or promising. The chapter is organized by the types of problems schools encounter: aggression/fighting, bullying, family issues, gangs, racial and other bias-related conflict, sexual harassment/sexual violence, substance abuse, truancy/dropout, vandalism, and weapons.

Demonstrated models have been rigorously tested in the field and have solid evidence of their effectiveness.

Promising models are well designed but have not yet been thoroughly tested.

The Comprehensive Weapons Reduction Initiative for grades K-12, is a promising model. The key components include a clear and consistently reinforced code of conduct aimed at preventing teasing and small fights, which tend to lead to weapons assaults. Environmental controls include random searches conducted by police, routine checks of areas where weapons may be hidden, home searches to recover firearms and explosives before they are brought to school, visual screening techniques that enable police and school staff to spot students who are concealing weapons, and strictly enforced sanctions for weapons violations. Students who have brought weapons to school can complete the academic year at an alternative school. Staff reported that student weapons violations have decreased by 70 percent. Contact: Bibb County Campus Police, 2444 Roff Avenue, Macon, GA 31204. Telephone: 912-746-6114. Fax: 912-751-6706.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for grades K-12, is a promising model for preventing violence by applying architectural design and space management concepts to the school building and grounds. The goals are to provide access control, surveillance through physical design and mechanical devices, congestion reduction, defensible space, psychological deterrents to violence, user monitoring, and territorial identity. Several of the design issues are focused on reducing the presence of weapons in the school and eliminating dark or hidden spaces where crimes can occur. CPTED reduced a school’s reported crime rate by 86 percent over a four-year period. Contact: National Crime Prevention Institute, School of Justice Administration, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292. Telephone: 502-852-6987. Fax: 502-852-6990.

The Self Enhancement Program for children ages 7-18, is a demonstrated strategy based on a relationship model. Appropriate behavior is taught through classroom education using conflict resolution and anger management techniques that uphold six standards of conduct. In addition, exposure education through trips to hospital trauma centers and juvenile detention facilities are part of the program. General anti-violence campaigns and continuous mentoring by program staff through a youth’s pre-adolescent and adolescent years are also included. This program has been found effective in decreasing handgun (and other weapon) carrying and fighting. Contact: Self Enhancement, Inc., 3920 North Kerby Avenue, Portland, OR 97227. Telephone: 503-249-1712. Fax: 503-249-1955.

The School Resource Officers (SRO) Program for grades K-12, is a promising model for effectively using law enforcement officers in the schools. Sworn law enforcement officers are trained to counsel students on law-related problems and support services, teach classes on the law, and serve as role models for students. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the rising numbers of school resource officers in North Carolina has contributed to the falling numbers of firearms reported at school. Contact: Pam Riley, Director, Center for the Prevention of School Violence, 20 Enterprise Street, Suite 2, Raleigh, NC 27607-7375. Telephone: 800-299-6054 or 919-515-9397. Fax: 919-515-9561.

Straight Talk About Risks (STAR) for grades pre-K through 12, is a promising model for preventing gun-related violence among students. Pre-K to grade 2 curricula focuses on obeying rules, staying safe and learning that guns are not toys. Students in middle grades explore media violence, reasons why people are violent, and strategies for coping with conflict. The high school curriculum fosters discussions on the consequences of handgun violence, on gun violence and youth, and on stress as a potential cause of violence. Students in grades 9-12 who have participated in STAR indicate that they are less likely to use a gun under a variety of circumstances. Contact: Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, 1225 Eye Street NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 202-289-7319.

The Annual Report on School Safety (NCJ 173934) is available at http://www.ncjrs.org

This summary is provided by the Texas Youth Commission. For more information about programs and research relating to children, youth, and family issues, contact us by e-mail at prevention@tyc.state.tx.us or by telephone at (512) 424-6336.

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