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Five Things About School-Based Violence Prevention and Intervention Programs

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Date Published
November 29, 2021

School-based prevention and intervention programs are designed to address a variety of issues faced by youth today, both within and outside of schools. The five statements below are based on practices rated by CrimeSolutions.[1]

1. School-based bullying prevention programs prevent victimization and reduce perpetration.

School-based bullying prevention programs aim to reduce bullying and victimization (being bullied) in school settings. Some interventions aim to increase positive involvement in the bullying situation from bystanders or witnesses. Based on a review and rating by CrimeSolutions of two meta-analyses, the practice is effective in reducing bullying and bullying victimization, and increasing the likelihood of a bystander intervening.

Review the practice profile School-Based Bullying Prevention Programs to learn more.

2. Cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs can reduce online bullying perpetration and victimization.

Intervention and prevention programs designed to reduce or prevent negative online behaviors among children ages 9 to 19 are effective for reducing cyberbullying perpetration and victimization, based on a review and rating by CrimeSolutions of a meta-analysis. This practice includes programs using individual-level, multilevel systemic, and universal or whole-school approaches.

Review the practice profile Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention Programs to learn more.

3. Universal school-based prevention and intervention programs for aggressive and disruptive behavior can reduce aggressive or disruptive behavior.

Universal school-based prevention and intervention programs for aggressive and disruptive behavior target elementary, middle, and high school students in a universal setting, rather than focusing only on a select group of students. Based on a review and rating by CrimeSolutions of two meta-analyses, the practice is effective in reducing aggressive or disruptive behaviors in students.

Review the practice profile Universal School-Based Prevention and Intervention Programs for Aggressive and Disruptive Behavior to learn more.

4. Interventions to reduce dating and sexual violence for school-aged youth and young adults do not reduce dating violence victimization.

A wide range of both prevention and intervention programs are designed to reduce or prevent dating violence perpetration and victimization for school-aged youth and young adults. Based on a review of two meta-analyses and subsequent rating by CrimeSolutions, such programs had no effects in reducing dating violence victimization. The CrimeSolutions review did find that such programs have other positive effects.

Review the practice profile Interventions To Reduce Dating and Sexual Violence for School-Aged Youth and Young Adults to learn more.

5. Selective school-based violence prevention programs can reduce aggression in K-12 students who are considered at risk or who have demonstrated such antisocial behaviors.

This practice consists of programs designed to prevent or reduce aggressive or violent behavior in K-12 students who are considered at risk of or who have demonstrated such antisocial behaviors.

Based on a review of multiple meta-analyses and subsequent rating by CrimeSolutions, the practice is effective for reducing aggression in students who participated in school-based violence prevention programs, compared with students who did not participate.

Review the practice profile Selective School-Based Violence Prevention Programs to learn more.

Date Published: November 29, 2021