Involving Students in Violence Prevention: Anonymous Reporting and the Need to Promote and Protect Confidences

Abstract

Researchers queried school counselors throughout the United States 2 months prior to and 2 months following the April 1999 Columbine (CO) High School shootings. The counselors were asked whether or not they would breach a student's confidentiality in 26 specific scenarios. The "before" and "after" groups were demographically similar but differed significantly in their predictions as to whether or not they would breach confidentiality. Resultsfrom two focus groups on school violence prevention provide recommendations for principals and other educators to facilitate student disclosures to trusted adults and to encourage anonymous reporting.