NCJ Number
192448
Journal
Law & Policy Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 297-343
Date Published
July 2001
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This article provides a legal and empirical analysis of proposed legislation to reduce school gun violence.
Abstract
In the wake of recent school shootings, communities and legislatures are searching for law enforcement solutions to the perceived epidemic of school violence. A variety of legal measures have been debated and proposed. These include the enactment of tougher gun control laws and more vigorous Federal and local enforcement of existing gun control laws; the enactment of laws that impose civil or criminal liability on parents for their children's violent behavior; the establishment of specialized courts and prosecution strategies for handling juveniles who are charged with weapons offenses; stricter enforcement of school disciplinary codes; reform of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act to make it easier to expel students for weapons violations; and greater use of alternative schools as placements for students who are charged with weapons violations. This article uses social science research to examine the patterns of school violence, gun acquisition by juveniles, and the effectiveness of various laws and law enforcement measures. The authors propose and discuss recommendations for legal reform. Although efforts to reduce school violence will be most effective at the State and local levels, the Federal Government has an important role, particularly in Federal-State partnerships aimed at disrupting illegal gun markets, as well as through the formulation of national standards and guidelines for the enforcement of existing laws; interagency law enforcement cooperation and information-sharing; effective school discipline and alternative educational settings for disruptive youth; and psycho-educational interventions designed to detect and prevent school violence. 70 notes and 126 references