ABSTRACT
The public discourse around promoting safe and supportive schools has been heavily influenced by reactions to several highly publicized violent attacks that occurred in K-12 schools during the past couple of decades (Maguire, Weatherby, & Mathers, 2002; National Association of School Psychologists [NASP] & National Association of School Resource Officers [NASRO], 2014). Although every death that occurs in school is a tragedy and highly emotional reactions to incidents of school violence are to be expected, the public portrayal of schools as being dangerous is not warranted. In fact, major longitudinal studies of crime and safety in schools such as the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System and Indicators of School Crime and Safety survey indicate that severe forms of school violence have been decreasing during the past two decades, while the use of school-based security and safety measures have been increasing (Jimerson, Hart, & Renshaw, 2012).
