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Bullets, Blades, and Afraid in Hispanic High Schools: An Exploratory Study of the Presence of Weapons and Fear of Weapon-Associated Victimization Among High School Students in a Border Town

NCJ Number
205872
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2004 Pages: 372-394
Author(s)
Ben Brown; Wm. Reed Benedict
Editor(s)
Elizabeth P. Deschenes
Date Published
July 2004
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study examined the presence of weapons and fear of weapon-associated victimization at Hispanic high schools.
Abstract
Despite the highly publicized school shootings of the 1990’s, most research indicates that juveniles are less likely to be violently victimized while at school than while away from school. Research does show, however, that the perception of danger at school negatively impacts students’ attendance, confidence, and grades. This study examined the presence of weapons and fear of weapon-associated victimization at school in a region where Hispanics are a majority. Data for this study were obtained from a survey conducted in Brownsville, TX, in 2000 and 2001 that contained questions pertaining to both demographic variables and crime-related issues. Brownsville is located directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and has a population that is 91.3 percent Hispanic. For a number of reasons, a random sample of students was not an option for this study. Questionnaires were administered to 230 students at 4 of the 5 largest public high schools in Brownsville. Of the students surveyed, 93.8 percent were Hispanic, 4.4 were White, and 1.8 percent were other racial/ethnic groups. These percentages are consistent with the population figures for all of Brownsville. The data were analyzed using logistic regression. Finding show that almost half of the students reported having seen other students carry knives at school, and nearly 1 in 10 students reported having seen other students carry guns at school. In addition, more than one in five students reported being fearful of weapon-associated victimization at school. Students who reported having seen other students carry knives or guns at school were significantly more fearful of being victimized. On the other hand, students who indicated membership in a sports team, student club, or student organization reported less trepidation, and older students and males were less concerned about weapon-associated victimization than younger students and females. The findings also suggest that immigrant youth are more fearful of weapon-associated victimization than nonimmigrant youth. Finally, language spoken at home was the only demographic variable that proved to have a significant impact on fear of weapon-associated victimization. Policy implications and study limitations are discussed. 3 tables, 3 notes, and 74 references

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