Weapons in an Affluent Suburban School

• NCJ Number: 193864
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 53-65
• Author(s): Stephanie R. Hawkins; Amy Campanaro; Traci Bice Pitts; Hans Steiner
• Editor(s): Edwin R. Gerler Jr.
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This exploratory study attempted to describe the self-reported violence and weapon carrying behaviors among suburban teenagers from an affluent community in the San Francisco Bay area.

Abstract

Past research studies had reported primarily on violence and weapon use among African American urban youth. It has become important to describe the weapon carrying behavior among suburban youth and determine if the risk factors for urban youth and weapon carrying are the same for suburban youth and weapon carrying. Research participants included 1,465 students enrolled in 2 largely affluent community high schools south of San Francisco. Results suggest that weapon carrying is a significant issue for suburban youth. The predictors of weapon carrying did not differ in comparison to inner-city or urban youth. The findings ran contrary to commonly held beliefs where children in affluent American suburbs were often overlooked in terms of youth violence. In summation, the idea that youth of suburban and affluent communities were not immune to youth weapon carrying was supported. Tables, references