A Longitudinal Examination of Gun Reporting by Middle and High-School Students

ABSTRACT

A variety of factors are associated with the likelihood of reporting guns at school; however, mixed empirical findings hinder our ability to inform policies to reduce school violence. Additionally, many of the established factors are difficult to change over time, and limited attention has been devoted to more malleable factors such as anonymous reporting. To better understand how to improve the likelihood of gun reporting at school, we drew from three waves of survey data from 3,633 students in St. Louis, Missouri. Using a multilevel model, we find that perceived risk of victimization and the availability of anonymous reporting increase the likelihood of gun reporting, while negative peer commitment, self-reported delinquency, and victimization decrease the likelihood of reporting. Additional analyses suggest that independent of known risk factors that inhibit reporting, increases in school climate and improvements in availability of anonymous reporting can increase the likelihood of reporting guns at school.

KEYWORDS:

• Schools
• guns
• reporting
• multilevel model

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by Award No. 2015-CK-BX-0021 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Institute of Justice [2015-CK-BX-0021].

Notes on contributors

Timothy McCuddy

Timothy McCuddy is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Memphis. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of youth crime and violence, school safety, and how technology affects social processes related to crime and delinquency.

Miriam Clark

Miriam Clark is a research associate at the Oregon Social Learning Center. In her research, she uses a preventative framework to understand how to better support children and families facing adverse experiences.

Anwesha Guha

Anwesha Guha is a PhD student in quantitative research methods in the education program at the University of Oregon. She is interested in examining the intersection of equity, prevention, and policy on student secondary and postsecondary outcomes.

Ellen M. McLeod

Ellen M. McLeod is a PhD student in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Her research interests include police & community interaction, diversion programs, and fostering a bridge between law enforcement and academia.