Introduction
Crime in the United
States began with the first European
explorers and settlers to the new world.
The rapes, thefts, assaults, vandalism, and murders of America
are beginning to spill over onto the college/university and school campuses
within the nation (Pessa & Bellotti, 1995).
“Criminal victimization estimates in 2001 are the lowest since 1973; but
campuses around the country still experience various types of crimes and
violence. (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS]. September 2002. Criminal
Victimization 2001: Changes 2001 01 with Trends 1993 2001. Washington,
DC: U.S.
Department of Justice.)” The United States Justice Department stated that
violent crimes in America
rose from 5.6% to 10.9 million (Bureau for Justice Statistics, 1994a). For violent crimes, that number appears to be
on the decrease, although crimes in general are on the increase; especially
within the inner city. Research suggests
that crime, violence, delinquency and antisocial behaviors are not new. Statistically, however, it is on the increase
in both the largest and smallest cities, in the suburbs as well as the rural
areas. Young people are being arrested
in ever increasing numbers (Cohen, 1977).
Within those students attending the campus setting, are beliefs, attitudes
and behaviors which may "predispose, enable, and reinforce violence"
(Pezza & Bellotti,1995) (Bennett-Johnson, 2003). There are several major theories suggesting
the cause of deviant behaviors. Theories
suggest that antisocial behaviors are within the individual and are a matter of
"free will"; on to theories indicating biological factors. Other
theories suggest that antisocial and criminal behaviors may be caused by the
person's immediate environment. It is
also suggested that a childhood history of physical abuse predisposes the
survivor to violence in later years.
Victims of neglect are also more likely to develop later criminal
violent behavior as well (Olsen & Widom, 1993).
Whatever the cause of these
behaviors, they must be analyzed, and those with such behaviors must be
counseled. There must be also be
prevention, so these antisocial
behaviors may decrease and diminish. The
extinction of these antisocial behaviors is necessary. The terms within this book include: (1)
crime, an act forbidden by law; (2) antisocial behavior, a way of acting which
is opposed to the good of "society"; (3) violence, considered
physical force usually resulting in harm; (4) deviance which
"departs" or varies from what is considered unusual or normal; and
(5) delinquent (usually associated with juveniles up to age 18) which is a
person who breaks the law repeatedly or habitually. There are varying terms and degrees of what
are considered negative behaviors. The
antisocial behaviors discussed will be what society considers as crimes. These will include aggravated assault,
robbery, vandalism, rape, theft, murder, etc.
The Bureau of Justice (1997)
stated in its 1996 report, that persons between ages 12 and 15 and between 16
and 19 had higher rates of violent crime victimization that those older. The
increase is continuing. What is even more astonishing is the number and types
of crimes committed by those under the age of 12. Children under age 12
committed 1.6% of the nation’s crimes of violence (1997). In 1994, United
States residents age 12 or older experienced
10.9 million crimes of violence as victims (Bureau of Justice Statistics,
1994a).
Fifty-seven percent of public
elementary and secondary school principals reported one or more incidents of
crime including murder, rape or some form of sexual battery, suicide, robbery,
or physical attack with a weapon.
Forty-five percent of elementary schools reported one or more violent
incidents compared with 74% of middle and 77% of high schools. According to the
National Center
for Education Statistics (1998), schools which reported serious discipline
problems were more likely to have incidents of crime and violence. The evidence
of an increase in crime within the college age group of those 16-26 and those
slightly younger adolescents nearing that age is overwhelming (Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1996). In 1997, the Campus Crime Report indicated
that some institutions reported large numbers of property crimes per student.
For the 1996 Report on Crime to the Nation, colleges/universities reported
102,081 property crimes which included larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and
burglary.
Approximately one dozen colleges
and universities reported more than 1,000 crimes during 1996, with the University
of Michigan (Ann
Arbor) reporting 2,002 property crimes. Crime exists
on campuses and is an undeniable problem nation-wide. The study of American crime/violence is a
significant one due to the nation’s violent crimes appearing at colleges/universities,
and senior/junior high and elementary schools.
It is also important due to the increase of juvenile crime. Because
campuses are located within communities, crimes within those communities may
“overflow” onto the college/university campus.
Behavior which is either desirable or undesirable does not just happen.
It occurs in response to some form of internal/external stimulation (Hall,
1951; Tolman, 1932).
Lederman stated that national
crime data shows young people are becoming more violent and are increasingly
likely to be involved in crime (Lederman, 1995). In the same article, Mr.
Lizotte, professor of Criminal Justice was quoted as saying, “If you have people in high school who are doing
drugs and carrying guns, some of those students are bound to end up attending
college” (Lederman, 1995). Pezza and
Bellotti (1995) suggested that if there is an increase in the number of those
students, there may be an increase of criminal, violent, antisocial and deviant
behaviors they will bring to the college and university campus environment
(Pezza and Bellotti,1995).
The Bureau of Justice Statistics
(1998) suggested that crimes within the U. S.
are on the decline, with the exception of motor vehicle theft and sexual
assault. There were also slight increases in personal theft which included
pocket picking and purse snatching (1998).
Older statistics indicated that between 1983 and 1994, the portion of
high school graduates going directly to college increased from 47% to 62%”,
with the number ever increasing. That increase was and is made possible through
federal grants and assistance to lower income students (i.e. Pell Grants) (The
National Center for Education Statistics, 1996). As the numbers of students
attending colleges and universities continued, so has crime among juveniles;
the age group which would eventually enroll.
During 1995, data indicated that in the United
States, 64% of person offense cases
(assault, robbery, rapes and homicide) involved juveniles under age 16. These
statistics continue to be important because they indicate an increase of crime
among an age group, some of which may be
headed to a college or university campus (Bennett-Johnson, 2003). According to the National
Center for Education Statistics
(1998), schools which reported serious discipline problems were more likely to
have incidents of crime and violence. The evidence of an increase in crime
within the college age group of those 16-26 and those slightly younger
adolescents nearing that age is overwhelming (Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, 1996). Campus crimes are a problem (and may become more
of a problem) as the number of juveniles committing serious crimes increases,
and the number of high school students with deviant behaviors going to a
college or university increases (National Center for Education Statistics,
1997). That underlining “thought” is continuously mentioned throughout this
book.
In 1997, The Campus Crime Report
indicated that some institutions, primarily medical schools, reported large
numbers of property crimes per student.
The 1996 Report on Crime to the Nation, stated that colleges and
universities reported 102,081 property crimes which included larceny-theft,
motor vehicle theft and burglary. Of
that total, approximately one dozen colleges and universities reported more
than 1,000 crimes during 1996, with the University
of Michigan (Ann
Arbor) reporting 2,002 property crimes. Crime exists
on college and university campuses and is unfortunately, an undeniable problem
nationwide. This book suggests that
deviant juveniles may eventually attend classes at a college/university and
bring negative (criminal) behaviors with them.
Because campuses are located
within communities, crimes within those communities may “overflow” onto the
college and university campus. National
crime data shows young people are becoming more violent and are increasingly
likely to be involved in crime (Lederman, 1995). Mr. Lizotte, Professor of Criminal Justice,
was quoted as saying, “If you have
people in high school doing drugs and carrying guns, some of those students are
bound to end up attending college”
(Lederman, 1995). If there is an
increase in the number of those students, there may be an increase of criminal,
violent, antisocial and deviant behaviors they will bring to the college and
university campus environment (Pezza and Bellotti, 1995).