The A-B-C’s of School Safety and security: A Conceptual Integration and Comprehensive Review

• In Event: Promoting Safety in Online and Offline Spaces: The Importance of Activity and Structural Features

Abstract

In recent years, an interest in focus of research addressing school safety and security has increased; however, this literature often lacks a cohesive theoretical perspective for addressing solutions to school crime and violence. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed review of the literature to synthesize and improve knowledge on school safety and security, and then to analyze this literature through the lens of the situational crime prevention perspective (SCP). First, a comprehensive review of the school safety and security literature is conducted. Second, the mechanisms and techniques that mirror those found within SCP are identified within the school safety and security literature. A literature search using Web of Science, Pub Med, JSTOR, and Google Scholar yielded 40 eligible studies. Article analysis indicated that each of these articles could be categorized within the framework of situational crime prevention and organized by its five unique mechanisms. The results of the current study indicate that the application of situational crime prevention is important to consider for future studies involving school safety and security measures in schools to prevent crime and violence. Additionally, the authors suggest future research optimize selection of techniques and frameworks for better assessments of school safety measures.

Authors

• Laura M. Gulledge, The University of Southern Mississippi

• Amanda Parker, Campbell University