NCJ Number
58779
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE THEORETICAL/METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR A SERIES OF SMALL-SCALE STUDIES OF CRIME AND VANDALISM IN DIFFERENT SCHOOL SETTINGS IS DEVELOPED.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW OF OFFENDER-BASED AND ENVIRONMENTAL THEORIES REGARDING THE CAUSES OF CRIME IN THE SCHOOLS POINTS TO WEAKNESSES BOTH IN THE THEORIES AND IN THE DATA GENERATED BY STUDIES BASED ON THE THEORIES. THE NEED FOR A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH TO TEST, MEASURE, AND EVALUATE A VARIETY OF APPROACHES TO REDUCING CRIME IN SCHOOLS IS NOTED. WITH REFERENCE TO THE AUTHORS' EXPERIENCE AS CONSULTANTS TO SCHOOLS WITH SERIOUS CRIME/VANDALISM PROBLEMS, SUCH A FRAMEWORK IS OUTLINED. ITS ELEMENTS INCLUDE SITE SELECTION, PREPARATION, AND PLANNING; OFFENDER-BASED AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH; DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH RESULTS WITH STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS; DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES; AND MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING OF RESULTS (WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING COMPARABLE DATA FOR CROSS-SYSTEM STUDIES OF SCHOOL CRIME). PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE RESEARCH COMPONENT OF THE FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO RESOLVE THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OFFENDER-BASED AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACHES. THE RESEARCH ENTAILS DEVELOPMENT OF PROFILES OF YOUTHS WHO ARE COMMITTING CRIMES IN THE SCHOOL, AND OF THE SCHOOL ITSELF. THESE PROFILES PROVIDE A MEANS OF EXAMINING FROM BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVES INTERCHANGES THAT INFLUENCE STUDENTS' BEHAVIOR. METHODOLOGY FOR EXPLORING THE INSTITUTION-INDIVIDUAL INTERFACE IS OF KEY IMPORTANCE, BECAUSE INTERFACE THEORY AND DATA ARE LACKING. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)