The Syracuse, New York, school system is floodlighting its schools at night to discourage vandalism. (RA)

This paper reports the results of a school vandalism survey made in school districts having populations of 6,000 or more. The report indicates what types of vandalism are most prevalent, which districts are hit hardest, and what parts of the school are most often attacked. The survey recognized four aspects of vandalism: (1) glass breakage; (2)…

An ultrasonic detection and alarm system protects Hasbrouck Heights High School, New Jersey, from unauthorized entry. (Author/MF)

In a three-year study, 20 schools from 12 districts tested strategies on reducing vandalism. The results showed that inappropriate student behavior decreased each year, leading to the conclusion that educators can act to reduce vandalism and inappropriate student behavior. (Author/WD)

Comments by the staff director and chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency. (Subscription $14.00 yearly, 2639 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034.) (MLF)

Arson at a Bellevue, Washington, high school destroyed the learning resource center. Plans are currently underway to install intruder alarms in a number of schools. (Subscription $14.00 yearly, 2639 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034.) (MLF)

School vandals are running up a damage bill of more than $500 million a year. This article describes what to do about it, and provides a frank discussion of major types of detection equipment. (Author/DN)

A discussion of today's problems in school security -- and possible solutions. (Author/MLF)

The primary function of a school system is to educate; however, the safety and security of personnel and facilities must be guaranteed. The author suggests that only way such a guarantee can be affected is by selecting a person who has the background ability to organize a system that will guarantee the safety and security of people and property.…

A student describes various school security programs and concludes that the most essential ingredient for success is the cooperative involvement of all parts of the school community. (Editor)

The governor of Michigan charged the Task Force on School Violence and Vandalism with the responsibility of developing recommendations designed to reduce school violence and vandalism. The Task Force was divided into five subcommittees: (1) Student Concerns, (2) Educational Personnel Concerns, (3) Law Enforcement and School Security Concerns, (4)…

One of 52 theoretical papers on school crime and its relation to poverty, this chapter states that youthful vandalism is a multidetermined problem that has its roots not simply in the personality of the vandal but also in interaction with peer, family, and community systems. The costs of vandalism are noted, and various intrapsychic and…

Fort Wayne Community Schools (Indiana) reduced vandalism costs from $22,450 a year to $550. Buildings are outfitted with a variety of intruder detection devices connected to a central monitoring station. (Author)

Discusses the types of vandalism and motivating forces behind vandalism, and makes suggestions for alleviating it. The author suggests that physical security measures are high-cost, low-yield items in terms of vandalism reduction. He argues for (1) the development of an information systems model to determine the effectiveness of various crime…

The author reviews some of the literature on the causes, extent, and prevention of violence and vandalism in the schools. Two programs designed to incorporate preventive mental health into the schools--Model Me, and Magic Circle--are discussed. (KC)