Drug courts depart from traditional criminal justice practice by directing nonviolent drug abusing offenders to intensive court-supervised drug treatment instead of to prison. An examination of drug courts is offered in this booklet. The text is based on extensive interviews with judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court administrators, police…

Findings of a study conducted by the North Carolina Governor's Task Force on School Violence are presented in this report. A survey of 129 school systems yielded a 100 percent response rate. The data collected indicate that levels of violence increased in 59% of the state's public schools over the past 5 years. A total of 14 Task Force…

This handbook helps young people help each other prevent crime in their communities. The handbook organizes and prepares peer educators to effectively reach their peers about crime prevention. Sections of the booklet include: (1) "How and Why to Use This Handbook"; (2) "What You and Your Friends Can Do To Prevent Crime"; (3) "Where to Start"; (4)…

By understanding what hate-motivated behavior is and how best to respond to it, schools can become a powerful force in bringing such incidents to an end. This booklet provides an understanding of the nature of hate crime, the extent of the problem, and a review of the seven elements of effective school-based hate prevention programs. References to…

This document outlines considerations in the selection of a cost-effective school-alarm system. Steps in the planning process include: conducting a district needs assessment; gathering input from all staff levels; consulting technical expertise; and selecting a security system that can be integrated with other site needs. It further describes the…

The United States suffers the highest incidence of interpersonal violence among all industrial nations, and violence among youth is increasing. While the causes of crime and violence are multiple and complex, research indicates that self-esteem is a critical factor as both a source of crime prevention and an essential element of rehabilitation and…

This paper offers guidelines to colleges and universities which must comply with requirements of the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, specifically Title II, Crime Awareness and Campus Security. An introduction outlines some measures that campuses are urged to adopt such as campus-wide committees to review security policies,…

These hearings open with introductory statements detailing the nature of the gang violence problem and legal precedents for federal intervention. Proceedings from the Los Angeles hearings include testimony by a county supervisor, disrict attorneys, a former gang member, the executive director of the Community Youth Gang Services, and the director…

Preliminary data from a study-in-progress support the view that public information campaigns may have greater efficacy than shown by previous research. To evaluate the public impact of the Advertising Council's "Take a Bite Out of Crime" campaign, which was aimed at promoting greater citizen involvement in crime prevention activities,…

This document provides transcripts of two consecutive days of Congressional hearings on narcotics abuse and control. Opening statements from Representatives Benjamin A. Gilman, Kent Hance, and Solomon P. Ortiz are presented. Testimony and prepared statements of 61 counselors and administrators in the field of substance abuse, public officials, law…

This selected bibliography lists many of the contemporary resources on suicide and its varied dimensions representing the health sciences, social sciences, and medicine. The materials include books, periodical literature, dissertations, audiovisuals, journals, and a list of related professional organizations. In addition to a general discussion of…

Although previous research suggests a disparity between crime fear levels among elderly persons and their actual risk of victimization, little specific data are available on the elderly person's cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding crime prevention. To develop a clear perspective on the crime-related orientations of the elderly,…

Offers administrative directives, including visitor identification and student release policies and a specific release procedure, for preventing and dealing with problems related to child snatching by spouses or former spouses. (KS)

Key findings are presented from a survey conducted by the California Research Bureau showing that most California school districts incorporate violence prevention program curricula with a strong police and security presence. Many schools have installed closed circuit video surveillance cameras, canine searches, and metal detectors. Unfortunately,…

This paper uses data from a randomized housing-mobility experiment to study the effects on juvenile crime of relocating families from high- to low-poverty neighborhoods. Since 1994, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Moving to Opportunity (MTO) experiment has assigned families from high-poverty Baltimore neighborhoods into three…