Discusses legal problems of a policy permitting the use of metal detectors to search students suspected of carrying concealed weapons. A wholesale search policy was challenged as a violation of students' rights, so the board adopted a selective search policy based on reasonable suspicion. (TE)

Over the past ten years, probation departments across the state of California have seen a number of important changes in the way they do business. Beginning with Title IV-A-EA in 1993, departments began a system-wide "sea change," from a focus on suppression, enforcement, and monitoring of youthful offenders to a focus on families and on…

This handbook, directed toward governing boards, provides strategies to help district and county boards prevent or reduce school violence. It focuses on prevention and early intervention. This second edition was updated in response to school-safety issues following several incidents in American schools. Following an executive summary and…

Afterschool programs provide safe places for youth after school in addition to improving academic achievement and helping working families. Afterschool programs provide youth a safe, supervised environment that reduces their risk of committing or becoming a victim of violent crime. A recent report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids has found that…

This guide is designed to support the teaching of the material contained in the introductory text, "Criminal Justice in America." The guide provides information about the text, detailed descriptions of the variety of teaching strategies employed, suggested teaching sequences, activity masters, and chapter and final tests. It is organized…

This document addresses violence as one of the key challenges facing the democratic and pluralistic republic under the framework of the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Primary focus is on criminal violence and the factors and behaviors that contribute to violent crime. The text is organized into three chapters: (1) "The Problem of…

Examines the problem of book theft in libraries, including why people steal; titles and subjects most frequently stolen; budget impacts; collection redevelopment; and a list of 31 suggested prevention measures, including policy issues; security measures; facility design; automated system tracking capabilities; collection strategy; and…

A statistical model is presented for evaluating the effectiveness of the Demerit Points System of Victoria (Australia) in reducing traffic offenses. Estimates of the mean waiting time between offenses were made by maximum likelihood methods. Empirical results with 46,982 drivers--participants in a Driver Improvement Program--support the system's…

Discusses Erving Goffman's work on public places with regard to how that work represents women's experience in public places. Reviews strategies that women devise to manage appearances in public places in order to illustrate how gender-conscious appraisal is necessary to appreciate the character of public places. (Author/LS)

Considers the research in addressing how society should reasonably invest in the treatment of violent juvenile offenders. The authors first examine the problems of evaluating interventions with violent youth, then explore various intervention options. The use of multisystemic therapy is offered as a cost-effective program for reducing juvenile…

This article describes the development and pilot testing of a curriculum to teach rape prevention and self-defense skills to visually impaired women. As a result of the course, five visually impaired women improved their physical self-defense skills, self-confidence, and problem-solving ability in hypothetically dangerous situations. (Author/DB)

Describes campus crime, including property crimes and violent crimes, occurring at Florida's community colleges from a systemwide approach. Discusses implications for security decision-makers at these campuses. Between 1991 and 1995, the average number of violent crimes across the system was 72 and the average number of property crimes was 2,154.…

The number of felony-murder convictions of adolescents on death row in the United States is arguably a warning beacon about the serious nature of juvenile homicide. Reviews the research on adolescent homicide and highlights significant family variables. The contribution of a family studies perspective for understanding adolescent homicide is…

Reviews the options available to school officials to ensure a secure environment, including intrusion alarm systems, dual technology, motion sensors, card access systems, closed circuit television, and video surveillance systems. Discusses the design development phase and emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach and the hiring of an…

Believes that the drop in urban teenage crime can be attributed to the change in how communities meet the needs of children and teenagers. Compares the U.S. cities with successful youth programs to ones that lack resources. Recommends that suburban and rural communities should also adopt programs to combat youth crime and violence. (CMK)