One of 52 theoretical papers on school crime and its relation to poverty, this chapter presents an institutional product theory of school crime, along with related evidence and a preliminary test of the theory. Two theoretical traditions, Albert Cohen's "delinquent subculture" theory and the social psychological "cognitive balance" theory, can…

Delinquency and vandalism are serious problems in secondary schools today. These problems, coupled with the fear of retaliation and the complications of the present legal system, are examined for causes and possible solutions in this newsletter article. Some causes of this delinquency are listed as: (1) alienation from society due to economic…

This is one of two volumes that present a comprehensive record of testimony and exhibits presented to a subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. Senate during hearings on the problem of violence and vandalism in American schools. This volume summarizes a hearing conducted on September 17, 1975, that focused specifically on models…

This booklet was prepared to assist school administrators in developing effective strategies to cope with school violence and vandalism. Various chapters prepared by different authors address different perspectives and aspects of the problem. Topics of the chapters include early prevention, the interagency team concept, management in a team…

After a year-long investigation, the National Commission of the Reform of Secondary Education has identified many problems facing secondary education in the United States. It notes, among other problems, that large city school systems are on the verge of complete collapse. After careful scrutiny and long debate, the Commission, with a membership…

This publication provides practical guidelines to design future school buildings and to set up administrative programs for existing structures that can cut the cost of both intentional and accidental school property damage. The first section on building exterior design responses discusses ways to reduce the ongoing cost of property damage by…

Explanations for school vandalism include poor parenting by many employed parents, who simply do not know what their children are doing after school, and the inability of schools to instill feelings of pride and loyalty in their students. Here are suggestions for reducing delinquency through programs designed to develop school pride. (Author/RK)

After preliminary research on juvenile crime and school and community meetings, the Little Rock (Arkansas) police department developed and presented a crime prevention program in the public schools. Two officers describe the program, attitude changes of school and students toward police, and students' increased knowledge of law enforcement. (MF)

Using multiple regression techniques, evaluates the relative contributions of community structure, school structure, and crime prevention efforts to delinquency in public schools. Finds that distance from central business district, school size, and region are of predictive value, when crimes against persons, property, and perceived crime are…

Examines research on crime, fear of crime and victimization in the school and community. Suggests that crime and fear of crime should be viewed in a community context since high-crime schools tend to be in high-crime neighborhoods with a higher fear level. (JAC)

Many children do not know enough about the law to make wise judgments about their behavior. Educational strategies for teaching about lawbreaking and its consequences are presented. Six laws commonly broken by young people are described, first in legal terms and then stated more simply. Case histories follow. (PP)

Survey findings indicated the use of alcohol and drugs among prepubertal and teenage students, and the involvement of both groups in theft and valdalism. The view advanced was by the study that deficient socialization and inadequate parenting, as well as peer group pressures and psychogenic factors, influenced these behavioral problems. (Author/RD)

Includes four articles grouped under the general theme of school library management. Topics covered include the application of total quality management to the school librarian's administrative and teaching tasks; dealing with graffiti and vandalism; organizing periodicals; and managing volunteers. (KRN)

This study assessed the effectiveness of posting signs for reducing graffiti in three men's restrooms on a college campus. Immediately following the intervention, no marks were made, and results were maintained at three-month follow-up. A possible explanation for the results is that the signs specified an altruistic contingency. (Author/DB)

Designed to provide background information and assistance to educators developing arson prevention programs in the schools, this report reviews existing programs and recent research on juvenile firesetting. Following an introduction, information is divided into four sections. Section 1 emphasizes curiosity and emotional disturbances as underlying…