New Report on Crime and Safety in Schools and College Campuses

Crime in the nation’s schools and college campuses has declined overall during the past two decades, according to a new report, Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2019. The report, jointly produced by the National Center for Education Statistics at IES and the Bureau of Justice statistics at the U.S. Department of Justice, also highlights new data on mental health services, victimization, school conditions, school environment, and safety and security measures at school. Key findings from the report include: During the 2017–18 school year, about 51 percent of public schools (or 42,200 schools) reported providing diagnostic mental health assessments to evaluate students for mental health disorders. Approximately 38 percent of public schools (or 31,500 schools) reported providing treatment to students for mental health disorders. In spring 2016, crime in the neighborhood and selling or using drugs or excessive drinking in public were the two most commonly reported school neighborhood problems. Based on school administrator reports, 34 percent of fifth-graders attended schools where crime in the neighborhood was a problem, and 31 percent attended schools where selling or using drugs or excessive drinking in public was a problem. From 1992 to 2018, the total victimization rate and the rates of specific crimes—thefts and violent victimizations—declined for students ages 12–18, both at school and away from school. The percentages of public schools that recorded one or more incidents of violence, theft, or other crimes and that reported such incidents to the police were lower in 2017–18 than in every survey year between 1999–2000 and 2009–10. However, the percentage of schools that recorded serious violent incidents was higher in 2017–18 than in 2015–16 (21 vs. 15 percent). The percentage of public schools that reported student bullying occurred at least once a week decreased from 29 percent in 1999–2000 to 14 percent in 2017–18. Between 2001 and 2017, the overall number of criminal incidents reported on postsecondary campuses decreased by 31 percent, from 41,600 to 28,900 incidents. However, the number of reported forcible sex offenses on campus increased from 2,200 in 2001 to 10,400 in 2017 (a 372 percent increase). In 2017, a total of 958 hate crimes were reported on postsecondary campuses. Three-fourths (77 percent) of these hate crimes were motivated by race, religion, or sexual orientation.