A Guide to Addressing Teen Dating Violence and Sexual Assault in a School Setting
"This guide details schools' responsibility to take a leadership role to prevent and respond to teen dating and sexual violence in schools and in the community. While the information is specific to California, much can be applied nationally."
Objective: Ten to 30% of students engage in bullying behavior. Bullies stand out on account of increased anger, poor interpersonal relationships, and poor quality of life. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of outpatient family psychotherapy as a monotherapy for anger reduction and improvement of behavior and interpersonal relationships and of health-related quality of life in male youths with bullying behavior. Methods: Twenty-two boys with bullying behavior took part in a family therapy program for 6 months. The control group was also composed of 22 youths and took part in a placebo intervention program. Every 2 weeks, results were checked with the Adolescents Risky-Behavior Scale (ARBS), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D), and the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Follow-up testing took place 12 months after treatment. Results: In comparison with the control group (according to the intention-to-treat principle), bullying behavior was reduced (family therapy group: from n = 22 to n = 6; control group: from n = 22 to n = 20). Significant changes on all ARBS scales and on the STAXI scales State-Anger, Trait-Anger, Anger-Out, and Anger-Control were observed after 6 months. In the IIP-D, significant differences were found on the scales for overly autocratic, overly competitive, overly introverted, overly expressive, and exploitable/compliant. In the SF-36, significant differences were observed in general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. The reduction in expression of anger correlated with a reduction in several scales of the ARBS, IIP-D, and SF-36. Follow-up after 1 year showed relatively stable, lasting treatment effects. Conclusion: The results of this study show that outpatient family therapy seems to be an effective method of reducing anger and improving interpersonal relationships and health-related quality of life in male youths with bullying behavior.
Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey (pdf)
"This Bulletin discusses the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence that measured the past-year and lifetime exposure to violence for children age 17 and younger across several major categories: conventional crime, child maltreatment, victimization by peers and siblings, sexual victimization, witnessing and indirect victimization (including exposure to community violence and family violence), school violence and threats, and Internet victimization."
Close the Book on Hate: Responding to Hate Motivated Behaviors in Schools
Discusses hate incidents and hate crimes. Gives lesson plans and teaching tips regarding responding to hate-motivated behavior in schools, holiday activities guidelines, anti-bias education, creating a positive environment in which to raise diversity issues, and resources.
Crime in the Schools: Reducing Conflict With Student Problem Solving
July 1999. This NIJ Research in Brief discusses an investigation of a student-based problem-solving model for reducing crime in the Nation's schools. Results of this study indicate that a guided group process can reduce school crime and improve the overall school climate. However, most of the conflicts uncovered during this project concerned everyday school interactions rather than gangs, drugs, and armed agitators.
Development and Evaluation of School-Based Violence Prevention Programs (pdf)
This article reviews practical issues in the development of school-based violence prevention programs.
Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature (pdf)
This literature review of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct responds to the mandate in Section 5414 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, to conduct a study of sexual abuse in U.S. schools. To satisfy this mandate, the Department of Education contracted with Dr. Charol Shakeshaft of Hofstra University. Using the limited research that is available in this area, her literature review describes, among other topics: prevalence of educator sexual misconduct, offender characteristics, targets of educator sexual misconduct, and recommendations for prevention of educator sexual misconduct.
Electronic Bullying Among Middle School Students (pdf)
"This study examined the prevalence of electronic bullying among middle school students. The most common methods for electronic bullying (as reported by both victims and perpetrators) involved the use of instant messaging, chat rooms, and e-mail. As children’s use of electronic communications technologies is unlikely to wane in coming years, continued attention to electronic bullying is critical. Implications of these findings for youth, parents, and educators are discussed."
Electronic Media and Youth Violence: A CDC Issue Brief for Educators and Caregivers (pdf)
"The brief summarizes what is known about young people and electronic aggression, provides strategies for addressing the issue with young people, and discusses the implications for school staff, education policy makers, and parents and caregivers. "
Evaluating G.R.E.A.T : A School-Based Gang Prevention Program (pdf)
Typical programs are directed at active gang members, and most target youths who are at risk for joining gangs. The G.R.E.A.T. program, in contrast, is presented to entire classrooms without attempting to predict which students are most likely to become involved with a gang. G.R.E.A.T. is aimed at middle school students and seeks to (1) reduce their involvement in gangs and delinquent behavior, (2) teach them consequences of gang involvement, and (3) help them develop positive relations with law enforcement. These three objectives are addressed through a nine hour curriculum taught in schools by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students are taught to set positive goals, resist negative pressures, resolve conflicts, and understand how gangs impact the quality of their lives. This report summarizes results of a five year study of the G.R.E.A.T. program. The study revealed that G.R.E.A.T. has modest positive effects on adolescents' attitudes and delinquency risk factors but no effects on their involvement in gangs and actual delinquent behaviors.
Evaluation of Violence Prevention Programs in Middle Schools
This 1995 report is found on the website of the National Justice Information Center.
Facing Down Violence is a response to the 1998 tragedy in Littleton, Colorado. An accompanying piece, Violent Persons Construct Their own Worlds from Materials We Give Them is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions on Safe School Policies for LGBT Students (pdf)
Fact sheet designed to address many of the frequently asked questions about how schools can best protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from harassement and discrimination while at the same time protect themselves from potential liability.
From Words To Weapons: The Violence Surrounding Our Schools
Report from a study where 1,802 students of the Los Angeles Unified School District were surveyed on a range of issues related to their experiences with violence, their own and their friends' weapons possession and their suggestions for ways to lessen violence, racial tension and conflict. (This report is 1.5Mb and must be downloaded and read with Acrobat Reader)
Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence (pdf)
Outlines strategies and approaches for members of school communities to consider when creating safer learning environments. Offers guideance for school violence prevention and response in the following areas: preventing student violence, preparing a threat assessment strategy, planning and training for actual crises, responding to a crisis, considering legal and legislative issues, and covering the crisis in the media. A list of Web sites pertaining to school safety and violence reduction is included.
Based on in-depth interviews with 140 youth and 130 teachers, administrators, counselors, parents, and youth service providers in seven states, this report offers the first comprehensive look at the human rights abuses suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students at the hands of their peers. Teachers and administrators frequently turn their backs on these abuses, refusing to take reports of harassment or hold accountable those who commit these acts; in some instances, officials encourage or themselves participate in these abuses.
Healing the Hate: A National Hate Crime Prevention Curriculum (pdf)
Originally designed to be used in classroom settings, these materials have also proven useful in a variety of other venues: working with youth who commit hate crimes, working with schools experiencing specific bias crime problems, in after-school programs, and in teacher training settings.
Homicides of Children and Youth
October 2001 Bulletin report. Provides a statistical portrait of juvenile homicide victimization by drawing on FBI and other data. As part of OJJDP's Crimes Against Children Series, the Bulletin offers detailed information about overall crime patterns and victim age groups. Specific types of juvenile homicide, including maltreatment homicides, abduction homicides, and school homicides, are discussed in further detail. The Bulletin also explores initiatives designed to prevent homicides of children and youth.
This preliminary evaluation of The Fourth R comprehensive school program is based on a randomized controlled trial with 20 schools in the Thames Valley District School Board in London, Ontario Canada.
Increasing School Safety Through Juvenile Accountability
16-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The author of this Bulletin, part of OJJDP's JAIBG Best Practices Series, recommends a comprehensive, collaborative approach that involves students, parents, and school officials. The Bulletin describes key elements of effective school-based accountability programs, delineates the steps essential to successful program implementation, and provides examples of promising programs and best practices.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 1999
Reports data on crime at school from the perspective of students, teachers, principals, and the general population.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2004 (pdf)
This 2004 report is designed to provide an annual snapshot of school crime and safety indicators, covering topics such as victimization, fights, bullying, disorder, teacher injury, weapons, and student perceptions of school safety. In addition to covering a wide range of topics, the indicators are based on information drawn from various sources, including surveys of students, teachers, and principals, and data collections by federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 2004 report also presents data on crime away from school to place school crime in the context of crime in the larger society. The 2004 report includes data from last year's Indicators of School Crime and Safety on principal reports of selected crimes, principal reports of disciplinary problems and actions at school, and fatal student victimization. The report also provides updated data on nonfatal student victimization; nonfatal victimization of teachers; students' perceptions of personal safety; gangs; students' reports of being bullied, avoiding places, being called hate-related words, and seeing hate-related graffiti; and students' reports of being threatened or injured with a weapon, being in fights, carrying weapons at school, using alcohol and marijuana, and having access to drugs on school property.
This report outlines ways to address youth violence. It is a response to the current acts of violence in our schools.
Law Enforcement Referral of At-Risk Youth: The SHIELD Program
8-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin describes how the SHIELD program mobilizes these assets to identify youth at risk of involvement in violent behavior, substance abuse, and gang activity and to address their needs through a multidisciplinary team approach involving representatives from the community, schools, and service agencies.
Low-Level Violence: A Neglected Aspect of School Culture
"A largely neglected aspect of school violence is low-level, underlying violence in schools that includes bullying, peer sexual harassment, victimization based on sexual orientation, and the psychological maltreatment of students by teachers. Low-level violence angers and alienates many students and contributes to a hostile school environment. This article examines the extent of low-level violence in U.S. public schools and its impact on students’ school performance. The authors argue that the one way of reducing low-level violence in schools is to create a more positive school culture and climate. Guidelines for preventing or minimizing low-level violence in schools are presented."
Nine Critical Elements of Promising Violence Prevention Programs
The purpose of this article was "to identify approaches to school based violence prevention that are the most promising and those that may not be effective."
Pathways to School Improvement
A page offering research based information on creating safe and drug-free schools. The sections "at risk" and "safe and drug free" provide the most information.
Prevalence and Predictors of Internet Bullying (pdf)
"The purpose of the present study was to contrast the prevalence of Internet bullying with physical and verbal bullying among elementary, middle, and high school boys and girls, and to examine whether key predictors of physical and verbal bullying also predicted Internet bullying."
Preventing Student Sexual Harassment
December 2000 report posted on the Eric Clearinghouse on Urban Education.
Preventing Violence by Elementary School Children
November 1999 report posted on the Eric Clearinghouse on Urban Education.
Preventing Violence in Our Schools
Resource that gives advice and resources to parents and educators on preventing youth violence.
Preventing Youth Hate Crimes: A Manual for Schools and Communities, 1998
Promotes the discussion, planning, immediate action, and long-term responses of hate crime to assist schools and communities in confronting and eliminating harassment, intimidation, violence, and other hate-motivated behavior among young people.
Preventing Youth Violence in Schools: An Essay Collection (pdf)
A collection of articles edited by Wendy Schwartz. Included in the collection is the article "Gang Activity at School: Prevention Strategies" by Shirley Lal. These resources are found on the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education.
Recent Trends in Violence-Related Behaviors Among High School Students in the United States
An abstract from JAMA, the Journal of the American Medicine Association.
Relationship Abuse Prevention Program (RAPP)
This school-based domestic violence prevention curiculum teaches students to recognize and prevent teen relationship abuse. Lesson plans include a variey of exercises. Parent workshop information and school staff development materials are also included.
Report on Research on Rape and Violence (pdf)
"This report is a compendium of research on issues related to rape, sexual assault, and violence. While efforts have been made to include research from as many sources as possible, it is inevitable that other valuable sources of research may contain information no included in this report."
This document provides an overview of state laws enacted in recent years to address violence in U.S. schools, particularly those laws concerning the collection of data and reporting of such incidents.
Resilient Girls—Factors That Protect Against Delinquency (pdf)
The Girls Study Group Series examines issues such as patterns of offending among adolescents and how they differ for girls and boys; risk and protective factors associated with delinquency, including gender differences; and the causes and correlates of girls’ delinquency.
"This study evaluated the short-term impact of a school-based violence prevention initiative on developmental processes thought to place children at risk for future aggression and violence and examined the influence of classrooms and neighborhood contexts on the effectiveness of the violence prevention initiative."
Safe Harbor: A School-Based Victim Assistance/Violence Prevention Program
The Safe Harbor program addresses violence prevention and victim assistance in school-based settings.
Scared at School: Sexual Violence against Girls in South African Schools
This report documents school-based sexual violence in South Africa; reviews school and state responses to sexual violence; explains the discriminatory impact on girls' education rights when the government does not respond adequately and effectively to gender-based violence; and sets forth recommendations to rectify these problems.
School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth (pdf)
"This longitudinal study found that family, school, and individual factors such as school connectedness, parent-family connectedness, high parental expectations for academic achievement, and the adolescent’s level of involvement in religious activities and perceived importance of religion and prayer were protective against a range of adverse behaviors. School connectedness was found to be the strongest protective factor for both boys and girls to decrease substance use, school absenteeism, early sexual initiation, violence, and risk of unintentional injury."
Page that discusses school crisis preparedness. Gives steps to enhance preparedness and links to sample guidelines.
School Disaster: Planning and Initial Interventions
This paper examines the roles and responses of administrators, teachers and staff, and parents as well as those of children following disaster. The following issues will be discussed: 1) primary intervention; 2) secondary intervention; 3) the intervention team; 4)administrators and staff; 5)parents and children; and psychological first aid.
School Violence Prevention: Strategies to Keep Schools Safe
Policy Study No. 234, January 1998. Posted by the Reason Foundation. Discusses the many faces of violence and the different methods of violence prevention.
School Violence: Prevalence, Fears, and Prevention
2001 paper. Describes the options that are currently available for schools. An analysis of the key components of various approaches in terms of their potential positive and negative effects can assist in the selection of policies, programs, and procedures while we wait for evaluations to be conducted.
Special Education and the Juvenile Justice System
16-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This bulletin is intended to inform judges, attorneys, advocates, probation officers, institutional staff, and other youth-serving professionals about the impact of special education issues on juvenile justice matters. The Bulletin summarizes the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and analyzes their relevance to the juvenile justice process from intake and initial interview to institutional placement and secure confinement.
Article regarding bullies in school and on the school bus and how parents and teachers can put a stop to this kind of behavior.
"This report provides a summary of findings from a review of evidence concerning the effectiveness of universal school-based violence prevention programs."
U.N. Report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children (pdf)
"This report provides a global picture of violence against children and proposes recommendations to prevent and respond to this issue. It provides information on the incidence of various types of violence against children within the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. "
Understanding School Violence Fact Sheet 2008 (pdf)
An updated fact sheet compiled by the CDC explaining what school violence is, risk factors, health effects, prevention strategies, and much more.
World Report on Violence against Children
"This book addresses all violence against children within the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. It lists the relevant international and national legal instruments and standards. It also describes the nature and impact of all forms of violence, indicating possible risk and causal factors. Finally, and most important, based on existing evidence and concrete examples, it provides detailed recommendation on measures to be taken to enhance the protection of children from violence."
This is the fourth in a series of handbooks designed for professional groups with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This handbook contains information that will help you learn about: domestic violence and its impact on adolescents; evaluating risk and safety planning for victims of domestic violence; coordinated justice responses to domestic violence and the role of juvenile custody programs and probation; risk assessment and reduction with adolescent perpetrators of intimate partner and family violence; promising practices for adolescent perpetrators of intimate partner and family violence; and resources on domestic violence for adolescent victims and perpetrators.
August 2000, 8-page Bulletin posted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This Bulletin analyzes findings from the School Crime Supplements (SCS) to the National Crime Victim Survey, describes characteristics of gangs in schools, and discusses contributory factors to gang prevalence in schools. The impact of gang presence in schools on victimization is also reviewed.
Provides texts of numerous articles related to gangs, youth violence, school violence and drug trafficking.