School Crime Up

By Bill Johnson Published Feb 28, 2002 03:00 pm Updated Jan 31, 2009 05:29 pm

A state report released Thursday shows that criminal and drug offenses on schools campuses are up for the third straight year.

The California Safe Schools Assessment is organized by the California Department of Education. Crimes Against Persons rose 16 percent. Drug and alcohol offenses rose 32 percent and property crimes are up by 1 percent.

Bomb threats, trespassing and weapons possession dropped by 5 percent. Crimes against persons are the most frequently reported crimes on school campuses. Battery remains the most common, increasing 18 percent from the previous year. Vandalism was the second most common crime reported, increasing by eight percent. Of the reports made, 92 percent occurred on school campuses. The rest happened on school buses or on a child´s way home from school.