Adolescents Who Carry Weapons to School: A Review of Cases

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

Y

13

Intelligence Quotient; Weapons; Suspension; Mental Health; Intelligence Tests; Adolescents; Student Behavior; At Risk Persons; Student Characteristics; Delinquency; Legal Problems; Substance Abuse; Mental Disorders; Comparative Analysis; Drinking; Drug Abuse; Secondary School Students

10.1300/J202v05n04_05

1538-8220

Multiple self-report surveys have collected data about weapons in school. This record review study considers characteristics of 47 adolescents adjudicated for carrying weapons at school and provides a descriptive analysis against a comparison group of 37 juveniles with other offenses. Demographics, weapon type, legal history, prior school suspension, intelligence tests, substance use and mental health information are discussed. The results show that the populations appear more similar than different with high rates of prior criminal offenses, school problems, mental health referrals, low intelligence and problems with alcohol or drugs. No specific factor reliably distinguished weapon carriers from non-weapon carriers. (Contains 3 tables.)

As Provided

20

2009

EJ841953