Violent Crime in the College and University Workplace (From Violence on Campus: Defining the Problems, Strategies for Action, P 87-109, 1998, Allan M. Hoffman, John H. Schuh, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-186198)

• NCJ Number: 186204
• Author(s): Allan M. Hoffman; Randal W. Summers; Ira Schoenwald
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Jennings (Martha Holden) Foundation
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines issues associated with violence on college and university campuses, with emphasis on the campus as a workplace.

Abstract

It explores the relative uniqueness of the campus, in that a college is an employer with employees who may be susceptible to the recent epidemic of violence in the workplace. The college campus is also comprised of students, who may be perpetrators of violence or victims of other students. In addition, the property of employees, faculty, students, and the campus itself may be easy targets of outsiders from the community that surrounds the campus. After presenting a definition of violence, national statistics on violence, and information about the cost of such violence, the chapter reviews selected prevention and intervention strategies. The strategies for intervention and the prevention of campus violence focus on the employee and the institution. Although the approaches discussed have been used for a number of years in private workplaces -- such as focused hiring practices, counseling, and training programs -- the focus on violence prevention and intervention is relatively new to the college and university campus. Hiring practices should emphasize not only finding the person with the right skills for the job, but also values, attitudes, and behaviors that are compatible with the organization's values, mission statement, and social milieu. This philosophy and practice is especially applicable for the prevention of violence in the workplace. Positive management practices, the use of discipline rather than punishment, the use of safe termination practices, and the development of a workplace violence action plan are also important in preventing and responding effectively to violent behavior in the workplace. Other issues in prevention and intervention are bomb awareness, security measures, a policy and procedure for strikes, supportive institutional systems, security training, contingency plans for crisis management, and crisis leadership. 46 references