Situational Crime Prevention in Schools: Implications for Victimization, Delinquency, and Avoidance Behaviors
Date
2015-08-13
Authors
Watkins, Nicole J
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Abstract
This thesis examines the relationship between situational crime prevention (SCP) practices often used in schools on students’ experienced victimization, engagement in certain delinquent activities, and avoidance of areas in school due to fear of victimization. SCP is an approach to prevention that embodies a range of techniques designed to reduce the opportunity for individuals to engage in criminal behaviors. Using the 2011 National Crime Victimization Survey’s School Crime Supplement, this thesis uses student self-report data to make inferences on the efficacy of such practices on the stated outcomes amongst middle and high school aged students. Results from logistic regression analyses find that possessing metal detectors and having adults present in hallways reduce the likelihood of victimization, while security cameras increase this risk. Locking school doors during the day is shown to reduce the odds of delinquency, while policies requiring the wearing of ID badges increase avoidance behaviors due to fear.
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Keywords
Situational crime prevention, Schools, Delinquency, Victimization, Avoidance