School Violence Down, Report Says, But Worry High

By Jessica Portner

Public fear of school shootings has not abated despite statistics that show the number of violent crimes on campuses is small and continues to decline, according to a report scheduled for release this week.

In its second report, titled "School House Hype: Two Years Later," the Washington-based Justice Policy Institute contends that schools' fear of lawsuits has driven up the number of student suspensions and prompted schools to buy high-tech security devices that are only marginally effective in reducing crime.

"Our young people are neither schoolhouse assassins nor the kids on the other side of the yellow tape, weeping over their classmates," said Vincent Schir-aldi, the director of the private, nonprofit institute. "They don't need us to turn their schools into prisons; they need our support to live healthy,...