THE INTRODUCTORY PAPER PROVIDES A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL VANDALISM. A DISCUSSION OF THE TYPES OF CRIME NOW OCCURRING IN THE SCHOOLS IS THEN PRESENTED. STATISTICS ON PHYSICAL ASSAULTS, VANDALISM, ARSON, BOMBINGS, AND DRUG ABUSE ARE PRESENTED, AND ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH BRIEF CASE EXAMPLES DRAWN FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION. METHODS OF IDENTIFYING SECURITY PROBLEMS AND NEEDS, AND TECHNIQUES OF PLANNING FOR PREMISES PROTECTION ARE EXAMINED IN THE TWO FOLLOWING PAPERS. FACTORS IN ARCHITECTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ORDER TO INCREASE SCHOOL SECURITY ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. FINALLY, A POTENTIAL COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM IS OUTLINED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEVELOPING SECURITY PROGRAMS.