In October 2009, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (“OJJDP”), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, released the results of the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (“NatSCEV”), a comprehensive nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s exposure to violence in the United States. NatSCEV measured children’s exposure to violence in their homes, schools, and communities, as well as across age levels. The survey includes data about different types of direct violence experienced by children, including assaults, assaults with weapons, sexual victimization, maltreatment and dating violence, as well as their exposure to violence as witnesses to assault within their families and communities.

The results of the survey are troubling. More than 60% of children surveyed had been exposed to violence in the last year, and nearly 40% of children surveyed had directly experienced violence in some form within the previous year. Based on the survey results, the OJJDP concludes that violence is a common part of our children’s lives and its incidence is on the rise. The OJJDP calls for a coordinated policy effort to identify and serve children at risk for direct and indirect exposure to violence. Schools are urged to partner with first responders such as police, ER personnel, social workers, and the juvenile justice system to support such at risk children. More research and more effective assessment tools are needed to better understand the social and educational impacts of children’s’ exposure to violence. To provide resources and support to all sectors concerning this issue, the OJJDP launched the the Safe Start Initiative, to broaden the knowledge of and promote community investment in evidence-based strategies for reducing the impact of children’s exposure to violence.

A copy of the summary of the NatSCEV results can be found by clicking here. 

Additional resources for addressing issues related to children’s’ exposure to violence can be found at: safestartcenter.org.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Anne H. Littlefield Anne H. Littlefield

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration…

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration proceedings as needed. Anne works with schools to address issues such as bullying and sexual harassment. She is often called upon to advise schools regarding professional boundaries and child abuse and neglect issues.  In her role as general counsel to boards of education around the state, Anne facilitates self-evaluation and goal-setting sessions. She also leads Shipman & Goodwin’s model policy project, which provides policy support and guidance to a number of school districts.

Anne serves as General Counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. From 2010 through 2017, she was Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, and from 2011 through 2017, she served on the firm’s seven-member Management Committee.

Read more about Anne H. LittlefieldAnne's Linkedin ProfileAnne's Twitter Profile
Show more Show less
Related Posts
CAS Legal Mailbag
CAS Legal Mailbag - 1/29/26
January 31, 2026
 New DCF Policy Facilitates Online Reporting and Creates New Unit for School Districts!
January 8, 2020
Human Trafficking
Reminder: Human Trafficking Awareness
December 19, 2019