School Violence: Causes, Prevention and Safety Measures

School violence is defined as the threat or use of force with the intention of causing harm, either at school or during school-related activities. Every year millions of K-12 students experience hostile behaviors including bullying, hate speech, and hate crimes while in school. Hostile behaviors in schools can negatively affect K-12 students' short- and long-term mental health, education, income, and overall well-being. In recent years, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice have issued reminders to schools about their obligations to address harassment and discrimination. School-based prevention and intervention programs are designed to address a variety of issues faced by youth today, both within and outside of schools.