| Violent and property crime rates at the nation's | | | | the Department of Education's National Center for |
| schools during 2005 were down. 57 such crimes per | | | | Education Statistics, violent and property, crime rates |
| 1,000 students age 12 or older were statistically | | | | remained about the same in the year 2005 compared |
| unchanged from the 2004 rate of 55 victimizations | | | | to the year prior. Crimes like rape, sexual assault, |
| per 1,000 students. | | | | robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault and also |
| We see how crime and violence affect children every | | | | theft were measured. |
| day, said Brooklyn-based Children of the City Board | | | | In 2005, students ages 15 to 18 were less likely than |
| member Rocco Basile. "We also see how a | | | | kids from 12 to 14, to be victims of crime at school. |
| community can help with after school programs that | | | | It appears that older students were more likely than |
| get parents and kids involved." | | | | younger students to be victims of crime while away |
| One of Basile's personal favorites is the Children of | | | | from school. |
| the City after school program in Sunset Park, which is | | | | Serious violent victimizations were lower at school |
| in Brooklyn, New York. Because of the organization's | | | | than away from school for survey years from 1992 |
| programs, those students who were at-risk students | | | | through 2005. |
| in junior high school are now doing terrific in high | | | | Students who observed the use of security cameras |
| school. Plus they are volunteering their free time back | | | | at their school increased from 39 percent in 2001 to |
| into the program to help other students and families | | | | 58 percent during the year 2005. Of the students in |
| in need. | | | | grades 9 through 12 an estimated 43 percent |
| For example, Stephanie is one of five children in a | | | | reported drinking alcohol anywhere and four percent |
| struggling single parent home. Recently she was | | | | reported drinking at school during the 30 days prior |
| accepted into the National Honor Society. Stephanie | | | | to the 2005 survey. |
| attributes her recent successes to the support that | | | | Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides federal |
| Children of the City gave her. | | | | leadership in developing the nation's capacity to |
| Another program known as FutureSafe is a | | | | prevent and control crime, administer justice and |
| collaborative monthly event attended by 500 children | | | | assist victims. |
| with a much-needed preventative element designed | | | | Programs like Children of the City connects kids and |
| to deter children from drug abuse, delinquency, gang | | | | their parents to resources to address their current |
| involvement and teen pregnancy. Attending one of | | | | crises, including educating and empowering them to |
| these events is often a first step for children when it | | | | break the negative and destructive cycles they've |
| comes to engaging in structured after school | | | | grown up with. The goal is to help kids learn to take |
| activities and events. | | | | responsibility to bring lasting change to themselves, |
| In a report released a year ago by the Justice | | | | their environment, and their community. |
| Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and | | | | |