Conclusion

Establishing the prevalence of school crime is only the first step in addressing violence in our schools. Although overall school crime rates are decreasing, the presence of street gangs and drugs, as well as recent high-profile incidents of school violence, have all contributed to making today’s students more fearful than ever.

Violence and crime in our schools affect students and their families, school employees and administrators, law enforcement and criminal justice officials, policymakers, and communities. Enactment of strong, concise school violence reporting laws is a crucial first step on the road to making our schools safe and violence free.