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