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Crime in Schools and Colleges: A Study of Offenders and Arrestees Reported via National Incident-Based Reporting System Data
Date: Oct. 2007
Author: James H. Noonan and Malissa C. Vavra
Institution: United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Systems Division, Crime Analysis, Research and Development Unit
Bibliographic Entry: Noonan, James H., and Malissa C. Vavra. “Crime in Schools and Colleges: A Study of Offenders and Arrestees Reported via National Incident-Based Reporting System Data.” United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Systems Division, Crime Analysis, Research and Development Unit, 2007. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/schoolviolence/2007/ (accessed Dec. 11, 2007).
Electronic Link: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/schoolviolence/2007/
Key Words: Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), Summary Reporting System, National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
Crime in schools and colleges affects those involved in the criminal incident and hinders societal growth and stability. This is why tremendous resources have been used to develop government and non-government studies focused on identifying the characteristics of crimes against schools. The findings in this guide will hopefully be used by educational officials and policymakers to develop proactive policies.
In an attempt to understand school, college, and university crime, this particular study used incident-based crime data the received from a limited set of law enforcement agencies through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The objective of the study was to analyze the data and examine specific characteristics of offenders and arrestees who participated in criminal incidents at schools and colleges between 2000 and 2004.
The study found that over the 5-year period, 3.3 percent of all incidents reported through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) involved school locations, and the highest number of incidents was in October. Using six data segments ─ administrative, offense, victim, property, offender, and arrestee, the NIBRS captured information on criminal incidents involving 22 offense categories determined from 46 specific crimes. Offense records were most likely to include the use of personal weapons, such as hands, fists and feet, while the use of alcohol, computers, or drugs was minimal. Reported offenders were most likely to be aged 13-15 year old white males who the victims knew; yet, there was almost an equal amount of 16-18 year old offenders as well. Over half of those arrested for crime at school were also arrested for simple assault or drug violations. Arrestees had similar characteristics to reported offenders, more often reported as 13-15 year old white non-Hispanic males, and residents of the community of which the school incident was reported.
Future studies using NIBRS data may analyze incident, offense, victim, and property characteristics; regional and rural/urban differences; and socioeconomic and demographics.
Name of Researcher: Alison Stevens
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: Dec. 12, 2007