II. The Context for Considering School Violence

The Broad View of Youth Violence

"Violence has become an intimate and regular component of the lives of many children across this nation. It affects children in every community and has become one of the major health issues of children. Guns will soon kill more children than automobiles. More children are scarred from violence than all other health problems combined. The victims and assailants are younger and younger, and the epidemic of youth violence now involves suburban and rural America."3

Nationally

After an increase in violent acts against or by youths from the mid-80's to the mid-90's, the most current statistics show a decrease in the incidence of youth violence. According to the 1997 National Crime Victimization Survey, victims reported 25 percent fewer violent crimes committed by juveniles between 1994 and 1995. The survey also indicated some reduction in the victimization rate of young teens.4 The rate of crime against 12- to 15-year-olds decreased from 118.4 per 1,000 in 1993 to 113.0 per 1,000 in 1994. However, crime against older teens ages 16-19 rose by a comparable amount, with victimization rates climbing from 114.2 per 1,000 to 120.5 per 1,000 - the highest for any age group.5 As recently as 1996, nonetheless, "juveniles accounted for 19 percent of all criminal arrests in the United States, including 15 percent of all murders, 17 percent of rapes, and 32 percent of robberies."6

Violence turned inward is also prevalent among teens. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the United States among people aged 15 to 24.7 The suicide rate for that age group has tripled since 1950.8 Whereas the rate of violence against others is higher among boys, the rate of suicide is higher among girls. "Girls are twice as likely as boys to experience depression and are more prone to contemplate or attempt suicide."9

Among industrialized countries, the United States experiences far and away the worst incidence of youth violence. "This country has the highest rates of childhood homicide and suicide among the 26 most industrialized countries. If youth homicide and suicide were inevitable – just part of the human condition – then one would expect the rates of these events from country to country to be similar. These statistics reveal an important truth: violence is preventable. We do not need to have this problem."10

Homicide Rates for Young Men 15 to 24 in Developed Nations11

Young Men at Risk

Killings per 100,000 men 15 through 24 years old for 1986 or 1987

• 0.3 Austria
• 0.5 Japan
• 1.0 W. Germany
• 1.0 Denmark
• 1.0 Portugal
• 1.2 England
• 1.2 Poland
• 1.3 Ireland
• 1.4 Greece
• 1.4 France
• 1.4 Switzerland
• 1.4 Netherlands
• 1.7 Belgium
• 2.3 Sweden
• 2.5 Australia
• 2.9 Canada
• 3.0 Finland
• 3.3 Norway
• 3.7 Israel
• 4.4 New Zealand
• 5.0 Scotland
• United States 21.9

1986-87, Journal of Amer. Med. Assoc.

Vermont

But what do these trends mean for Vermont? We have no reason to believe that Vermont is immune to the problems of youth violence studied at the national level. Although Vermont data is limited, some arrest data, self-reporting, and agency surveys are available.

Arrest data. We know that Vermont has the lowest juvenile arrest rate in the United States.12 But with "juveniles account[ing] for 19 percent of all criminal arrests in the United States"13 and our country's dubious distinction of high juvenile crime rates,14 we must ask ourselves if Vermont juvenile violence is acceptable.

As a snapshot of juvenile arrests, 85% of Vermont law enforcement agencies reported the following figures for the six-month period between February 1 - August 1, 1998:

Vermont State Police Headquarters15

Persons Arrested Under Age 18

2/1/98 - 8/1/98

• Murder.....1
• Manslaughter..... 0
• Forcible Rape.....14
• Aggravated Assault.....27
• Other Assault.....150
• Weapons Offenses.....1

Juvenile arrest figures are indicative of only a portion of juvenile violence in Vermont. Statewide surveys that rely on student self-reporting provide another view. According to the Vermont Department of Health data in 1997:

• Vermont's teen suicide rate is higher than the national average with a rate of 4.2 deaths per 100,000 adolescents, compared to 3.1 deaths per 100,000 adolescents nationwide.16 One-fourth of Vermont students seriously consider suicide.17

• 31% of Vermont students (grades 8 to 12) were in a physical fight during the preceding 12 months; by contrast, 39% of students (grades 9 to 12) nationally reported having been in a fight during 1995.18

Agency surveys. Hospital reporting provides yet another view. Although the data do not identify the cause of injuries, the following may be viewed in combination with the self-reporting and arrest data. According to the Vermont Agency of Human Services data, in 1995:

• Vermonters age 0-9 had a rate of 165 injuries per 1,000 resulting in hospitalization.

• Vermonters age 18-24 had a rate of 347 injuries per 1,000 resulting in hospitalization.19