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Abstract
This study examines the effect of dynamic and structural community characteristics on school misconduct. Data include over 45,000 students in the eighth, tenth, or twelfth grade in 237 schools. Hierarchical linear models tested the direct and interactive effects of community measures, while accounting for student and school characteristics. Community substance abuse norms as well as perceptions of community crime and disorder mediated the influence of concentrated disadvantage on school misconduct. Interaction effects demonstrated that community substance abuse norms were more influential for students enrolled in schools that had a less positive school climate although individual and school characteristics remained robust predictors of school misconduct. School misconduct is influenced by the characteristics of the surrounding community and school context, as well as the interaction between those contexts. Research relying on census data measures of community characteristics may underestimate community influence on school misconduct, and omit proximal community influences on school misconduct.
Notes
1. Analysis determined that excluded schools were not distinct regarding their community characteristics in comparison to schools that remained in the analysis.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Todd A. Armstrong
Todd A. Armstrong, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Sam Houston State University. His research interests have more recently focused on biosocial explanation of antisocial behavior and criminal justice system program and policy evaluation.
Gaylene S. Armstrong
Gaylene S. Armstrong, PhD, is an associate professor and the graduate director for the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, as well as the research director of the Correctional Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University. Her research primarily focuses on the evaluation of correctional program and policy in both institutional and community corrections settings.
Charles M. Katz
Charles Katz, PhD, is a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. Recently, his work has included an examination of illegal immigration and drug use, in addition to a study on the influence of gang membership on violent victimization.