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Workplace Violence: Can It Be Prevented?

NCJ Number
159283
Journal
Trial Volume: 31 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1995) Pages: 10-12
Author(s)
K McMurry
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that nearly 1 million pesons are victimized by violent crime in the workplace; in addition, the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that workplace violence accounts for about 15 percent of all acts of violence experienced by people aged 12 years and older.
Abstract
Others who track workplace violence indicate that 1,071 homicides occurred in the workplace during 1994 and that about 75 percent of these homicides involved robbery or other crimes of opportunity. Violence in the workplace that does not involve robbery can be categorized as acts of domestic violence or stalking, acts by disgruntled current or former employees, and acts by customers or clients whose presence in the workplace is temporary and often unexpected and uncontrollable. More and more companies are making concerted efforts to prevent workplace violence, mainly through employee education and assistance programs. Further, injuries and deaths associated with violence in the workplace cost employers who must deal with lawsuits that frequently claim company negligence.