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Trouble in the School Yard: A Study of the Risk Factors of Victimization at School

NCJ Number
201174
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2003 Pages: 460-484
Author(s)
Christopher J. Schreck; J. Mitchell Miller; Chris L. Gibson
Editor(s)
Ronald E. Vogel
Date Published
July 2003
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study attempted to identify factors that can aid in identifying potential victims of crimes at school, specifically individual, school-related, and community-related factors.
Abstract
Most Americans will spend a significant proportion of their childhood attending school. During any given school year, children experience victimization at school. However, what factors single out individual students to become victims of crime while at school and does everyone share equal risk? This study began by discussing three sources of risk which can help identify potential victims of school crime: individual risk factors, school-related risk factors, and community-related risk factors. Using data from the 1993 National Household and Education Survey’s School Safety and Discipline component, this study then examined the antecedents of individual schoolyard victimization in a sample of American children enrolled in school using logistic regression. The study found that victimization at school does indeed reflect the confluence of community, school, and individual student characteristics. The characteristics explain a portion of statistically significant demographic patterns in victimization risk at school, particularly gender differences in theft victimization. Students living in communities where they perceive a crime problem tend to have a higher risk of victimization. Students indicating alienation from school and reporting feeling school rules are unfair tend to have greater risk of victimization. A couple of interpretations are made: (1) school may have earned the distrust of students by being ineffective at their role of protecting students causing hostile attitudes and (2) hostile attitudes toward school may correspond with the unwillingness on the part of the student to seek help from school authorities or rely on their protection. Several study limitations are presented and discussed. This study provides insights about which correlates of victimization among school children are most important. Appendix and references