While research indicates that students are safer in school than elsewhere, a small number of fatal shootings on school campuses have raised public concern and emphasized the importance of having an accurate assessment of school violence so that we can target resources effectively. The Bulletin describes key elements of effective school-based accountability programs, delineates the steps essential to successful program implementation, and provides examples of promising programs and best practices.
Every child is entitled to learn and grow in a safe environment.
The information that this Bulletin offers should enhance our efforts to make that ideal a reality. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Acknowledgments Scott H. Decker, Ph.D., is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri St. Louis.