NCJ Number
142461
Journal
Violence, Aggression and Terrorism Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1987) Pages: 81-96
Date Published
1987
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article describes a new methodology for collecting, analyzing, and acting on instances of juvenile misbehavior and crime in public schools that calls for separating crimes from disciplinary infractions and then applying a team approach to problem resolution.
Abstract
The methodology is designed to help school principals provide a safer learning environment by helping them understand more clearly the characteristics of student crime and misbehavior. Known as Safer Schools, Better Students, the approach incorporates four elements: (1) clearly differentiating between disciplinary infractions and criminal acts in schools; (2) applying in the public school setting analysis techniques well-established in law enforcement circles for collecting and evaluating information about the characteristics of unwanted incidents; (3) assaying the consequences of both violent and nonviolent crimes and of noncriminal disciplinary infractions; and (4) using this information to develop and refine investigation, intervention, and prevention strategies. One of the particular strengths of the methodology is that it allows data on student misbehavior to be kept in one place. Such data are essential for implementing and monitoring prevention strategies. Some of the technical aspects of the methodology are described, as well as various prevention approaches. 15 references and 1 figure