Indicators of School Crime and Safety -- 1999 data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population from the National Crime Victimization Survey, the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the National Household Education Survey, and the School and Staffing Survey. A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, the report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. Data for crime away from school are also presented to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society. The report provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools.

From 1970 to 1991, the death rate from homicide for teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age increased 220% (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1993). Homicide has become 1 of the top 2 leading causes of death for that age group. Homicide direct effects only on a small but increasing portion of the population (approximately 10 teenagers per 100,000 residents). Other less extreme forms of violence, however, have been found to affect a much larger group of adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Relationship between hunger and psycho-social functioning in low-income American children who are classified as hungry are more likely to have mood and attention problems and more likely to be absent from school than poor children who are classified as not hungry. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Bullies Are Also Victims -- In a survey of 558 students in a Midwestern middle school, 80% of the students had engaged in bullying behaviors during the previous 30 days. "These findings indicated that the bullying behaviors measured (teasing, name calling, threatening, physical aggression and social ridiculing of peers) are very common," according to psychologist Dorothy Espelage, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-researchers. American Psychological Association

Analysis of psychiatric emergencies in children and adolescents suggests suicidal youngsters are likely to be older girls, while those with aggressive or defiant disorders are more likely to be younger boys. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Student Perspectives on Causes of Youth Violence -- National Association of Attorneys General and the National School Boards Association have joined together to address the escalating problem of youth violence occurring across our country. Our Youth Violence and School Safety Initiative is dedicated to promoting a mutual response to violent instances occurring in our communities and schools. We are committed to working together to find solutions to these problems. National Association of Attorneys General and the National School Boards Association

Juvenile Crime--Outlook for California -- The public's fear of crime, including juvenile crime, is a major concern for policymakers. In California, and throughout the nation, nightly news programs often begin their broadcasts with accounts of violent crime committed by juveniles. The Legislature and the Governor have enacted numerous laws to address the public's concerns about juvenile crime. Despite these efforts, polls show that the public continues to see crime as one of the most pressing problems in society. California's Juvenile Justice System

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