Despite much research on and knowledge gains in the root causes of school violence, critical gaps in understanding remain. This comprehensive mixed-methods study addressed the unique root causes of committing violence in schools (e.g., versus nonviolent school behavior and violence in the community), by analyzing administrative juvenile justice data from Florida (N = 494,173 juvenile arrests from 2010-2022) alongside in-depth interviews with 54 school personnel statewide. The research examined multilevel (individual, school, and community-level) influences on (a) whether school violence shares common risk factors with other forms of youth crime, (b) whether distinct predictors vary across violence subtypes, and (c) whether prospective risk factors predict school violence among already-delinquent youth. Findings revealed that juvenile arrests for school violence constituted about 7% of all arrests and one-fifth of all violent arrests during the study period. Quantitative analyses revealed complex patterns of youth involved in school violence. They demonstrated lower levels of traditional criminological risk factors, including substance use, antisocial peers, and family problems, compared to youth engaged in community violence or nonviolent school offenses. Other significant predictors of increased school violence included racial and ethnic minority status, prior felony convictions, anger problems, attendance at better-resourced schools with higher truancy rates, and residence in poor neighborhoods. Different forms of school violence showed distinct risk profiles, with serious violence (involving weapons or sexual offenses) predicted primarily by prior felony convictions and neighborhood immigration rates, while traditional risk factors more strongly predicted simple assault. Further, the findings revealed that only 3% of youth with prior juvenile justice system contact went on to commit school violence within one year. However, 31% of youth arrested for school violence in Florida had a subsequent adult arrest for a violent offense—rates that were modestly lower than those for youth arrested for community violence but higher than those arrested for nonviolent school behavior. Qualitative findings from school practitioners provided contextual understanding of these patterns. Personnel described school violence as fundamentally rooted in community and family problems that manifest on campus, with most conflicts originating outside school or on social media. Practitioners identified social-emotional skill deficits in coping mechanisms and conflict resolution as primary drivers. Digital platforms have transformed violence development, enabling conflicts to escalate online before becoming physical confrontations at school. They noted critical implementation barriers to prevent school violence, including unsustainable mental health caseloads, a lack of in-depth prevention curricula, parental participation challenges, and acute resource constraints in rural communities. Despite these challenges, practitioners identified effective strategies when consistently implemented: relationship-focused school resource officers, mentoring programs, restorative justice approaches, and trauma-informed practices. The findings of this study challenge conventional assumptions about the roots of school violence and highlight the need for comprehensive prevention approaches. Recommendations include substantial investments in mental health staffing, systematic prevention programming, and community partnerships to effectively reduce school violence.
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