School Survey of Crime and Safety (SSOCS) Incident Count Check Cognitive Interviews Update

School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS)
Incident Count Check Cognitive Interviews

Appendix C – Questionnaire Handouts
OMB #1850-0803 v.2

Submitted by
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education

February 2020

ITEM TREATMENT
The focus of this study is the 11 incident types that directly overlap on the 2017–18 SSOCS and
CRDC data collections. Items in the two collections are very similar. There are minor but notable
differences. It is necessary to collapse some CRDC incident items to align with the corresponding
SSOCS items. Table 1 provides a crosswalk between SSOCS and CRDC items.
Table 1. Crosswalk of SSOCS incident items to CRDC incident items
#

SSOCS Item

1

Number of recorded incidents of rape or
attempted rape
Number of recorded incidents of sexual
assault other than rape (include threatened
rape)
Number of recorded incidents of robbery
(taking things by force) without a weapon
Number of recorded incidents of robbery
(taking things by force) with a weapon

2
3
4

5
6

7
8

9
10
11

Number of recorded incidents of physical
attack or fight without a weapon
Number of recorded incidents of physical
attack or fight with a weapon

Number of recorded incidents of threats of
physical attack without a weapon
Number of recorded incidents of threats of
physical attack with a weapon

Number of recorded incidents of possession
of a firearm/explosive device
Was there a school shooting?
Did school have a homicide?

CRDC Item
C0310
C0314
C0322
C0318

C0330
C0326

C0338
C0334

C0346
C0308
C0306

Number of recorded incidents of
rape
Incidents of sexual assault (other
than rape)

SCH_OFFENSE_RAPE

Incidents of robbery without a
weapon
Incidents of robbery with a
weapon
Incidents of robbery with a
firearm or explosive device
Incidents of physical attack or
fight without a weapon
Incidents of physical attack or
fight with a weapon
Incidents of physical attack or
fight with a firearm or explosive
device

SCH_OFFENSE_ROBWOW

Incidents of threats of physical
attack without a weapon
Incidents of threats of physical
attack with a weapon

SCH_OFFENSE_THRWOW

Incidents of threats of physical
attack with a firearm or explosive
device

SCH_OFFENSE_THRWW

Incidents of possession of a
firearm or explosive device
Was there a school shooting?
Did school have a homicide?

SCH_OFFENSE_POSSWX

SCH_OFFENSE_BATT

SCH_OFFENSE_ROBWX
SCH_OFFENSE_ROBWW
SCH_OFFENSE_ATTWOW
SCH_OFFENSE_ATTWX
SCH_OFFENSE_ATTWW

SCH_OFFENSE_THRWX

SCH_FIREARM_IND
SCH_HOMICIDE_IND

The incident types asked about on SSOCS and CRDC range from less severe to very serious offenses
and the rate of occurrence can also vary greatly between incident types. In order to examine similar
incidents together, the 11 SSOCS incident types will be aggregated into three categories based on the
severity and frequency of the incident. These aggregations are often used for official reporting
purposes:
(1) Serious violent, rare incidents: rape, homicides, shootings
(2) Serious violent, not rare incidents: sexual assault, robbery with a weapon, robbery without
a weapon, physical attack or fight with a weapon, threat of physical attack with a weapon
(3) Violent (but not serious violent) incidents: physical attack or fight without a weapon, threat
of physical attack without a weapon, possession of a firearm or explosive device

Incident Items on the School Survey on Crime
and Safety (SSOCS) 2017–18 Questionnaire
Handout

Incidents
30. Please record the number of incidents that occurred at school* during the 2017–18 school year
for the offenses listed below. (NOTE: The number in column 1 should be greater than or equal to
the number in column 2.)
If none, please place an "X" in the None box.
Please provide information on:
The number of incidents, not the number of victims or offenders.
Recorded incidents, regardless of whether any disciplinary action was taken.
Recorded incidents, regardless of whether students or non-students were involved.
Incidents occurring before, during, or after normal school hours.
Column 1

Column 2

Total number
of recorded incidents

a. Rape* or attempted rape*

Number reported to police or
other law enforcement

310

0

None

312

0

None

314

0

None

316

0

None

318

0

None

320

0

None

322

0

None

324

0

None

326

0

None

328

0

None

330

0

None

332

0

None

334

0

None

336

0

None

338

0

None

340

0

None

342

0

None

344

0

None

346

0

None

348

0

None

350

0

None

352

0

None

354

0

None

356

0

None

355

0

None

357

0

None

358

0

None

360

0

None

362

0

None

364

0

None

b. Sexual assault* other than
rape* (include threatened rape*)

c. Robbery* (taking things by force)
i. With a weapon*
ii. Without a weapon*

d. Physical attack or fight*
i. With a weapon*
ii. Without a weapon*

e. Threats of physical attack*
i. With a weapon*
ii. Without a weapon*

f. Theft/larceny* (taking things
worth over $10 without personal
confrontation)

g. Possession of a
firearm/explosive device*

h. Possession of a knife or
sharp object
i. Distribution, possession,
or use of illegal drugs

j. Inappropriate distribution, possession,
or use of prescription drugs
k. Distribution, possession,
or use of alcohol

l. Vandalism*

*Please use the definition on the next page.
FORM SSOCS-1 (10-19-2017)

§,+(¤

111007

Frequency of Crime and Violence at School
28. During the 2017–18 school year, have any of your school’s students, faculty, or staff died as a
result of a homicide committed at your school*?
306

Yes

1
2

2

No

29. During the 2017–18 school year, has there been at least one incident at your school* that

involved a shooting (regardless of whether anyone was hurt)? Please include those incidents that
occurred at school*, regardless of whether a student or non-student used the firearm*.
308

1

Yes

2

No

DEFINITIONS
The following words are bolded and marked by an asterisk (*) wherever they appear
in the questionnaire. Please use these definitions as you respond.
At school/at your school – activities
happening in school buildings, on school grounds,
on school buses, and at places that hold
school-sponsored events or activities. Unless
otherwise specified, this refers to normal school
hours or to times when school activities/events
were in session.
Firearm/explosive device – any weapon that
is designed to (or may readily be converted to)
expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
This includes guns, bombs, grenades, mines,
rockets, missiles, pipe bombs, or similar devices
designed to explode and capable of causing bodily
harm or property damage.
Physical attack or fight – an actual and
intentional touching or striking of another person
against his or her will, or the intentional causing of
bodily harm to an individual.
Rape – forced sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal,
or oral penetration). This includes sodomy and
penetration with a foreign object. All students,
regardless of sex or gender identity, can be victims
of rape. [Counts of attempted rape should be
added to counts of rapes in your reporting of item
30a.]

Sexual assault – an incident that includes
threatened rape, fondling, indecent liberties, or
child molestation. All students, regardless of sex or
gender identity, can be victims of sexual assault.
Classification of these incidents should take into
consideration the age and developmentally
appropriate behavior of the offender(s).
Theft/larceny (taking things worth over
$10 without personal confrontation) – the
unlawful taking of another person’s property
without personal confrontation, threat, violence, or
bodily harm. This includes pocket picking, stealing
a purse or backpack (if left unattended or no force
was used to take it from owner), theft from a
building, theft from a motor vehicle or of motor
vehicle parts or accessories, theft of a bicycle, theft
from a vending machine, and all other types of
thefts.
Violence – actual, attempted, or threatened fight
or assault.
Weapon – any instrument or object used with the
intent to threaten, injure, or kill. This includes lookalikes if they are used to threaten others.

*Please use the definition on this page.

§,-&¤

FORM SSOCS-1 (10-19-2017)

111205

Incident Items on the Civil Rights Data
Collection (CRDC) 2017–18 Questionnaire
Handout

School Form

OFFN: Offenses
Module Instructions
DATES
Report a cumulative count based on the entire 2017-18 regular school year, not including intersession or summer.
NOT APPLICABLE (NA) and ZERO (0) FILLS IN TABLES
The online tool remembers information that has been entered in other tables and modules and uses that
information to fill related tables with either a Not Applicable (NA) code or zero (0) where appropriate. For
example, if it is reported that a school does not have any females who are EL, other tables that ask for counts of
females who are EL will be automatically filled with a zero.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Count incidents that occurred before, during, or after normal school hours.
Count incidents regardless of whether any disciplinary action was taken, and regardless of whether students or
non-students were involved.
Incidents that could be classified in multiple categories should be reported in the most egregious category.
KEY DEFINITIONS
Firearm or explosive device refers to any weapon that is designed to (or may readily be converted to) expel a
projectile by the action of an explosive. This includes guns, bombs, grenades, mines, rockets, missiles, pipe bombs,
or similar devices designed to explode and capable of causing bodily harm or property damage.
An incident refers to a specific criminal act involving one or more victims and offenders. For example, if two
students are robbed without a weapon, at the same time and place, this is classified as two robbery victimizations
but only one robbery without a weapon incident.
Physical attack or fight refers to an actual and intentional touching or striking of another person against his/her
will, or the intentional causing of bodily harm to an individual. Physical attack or fight does not include rape.
Rape refers to forced sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral penetration). This includes sodomy and penetration
with a foreign object. Both male and female students can be victims of rape. Rape is not defined as a physical
attack or fight.
Robbery is taking or attempting to take anything of value that is owned by another person or organization, under
confrontational circumstances by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear. A key
difference between robbery and theft/larceny is that robbery involves a threat or assault.
Sexual assault is an incident that includes threatened rape, fondling, indecent liberties, or child molestation. Both
male and female students can be victims of sexual assault. Classification of these incidents should take into
consideration the age and developmentally appropriate behavior of the offender(s).
A threat refers to an act where there was no physical contact between the offender and victim but the victim felt
that physical harm could have occurred based on verbal or nonverbal communication by the offender. This
includes nonverbal threats (e.g., brandishing a weapon), and verbal threats of physical harm which are made in
person. Threats made over the telephone or threatening letters are excluded.
A threat of physical attack with a weapon includes displaying, brandishing, or discharging a weapon, but with no
actual physical contact of any person. A threat is made in person. Threats made over the telephone or
threatening letters are excluded. A threat of physical attack using words that refer to a weapon would not be
considered a threat with a weapon.
A threat of physical attack without a weapon refers to a threat without any display, brandishment, or discharge of
a weapon, and with no actual physical contact of any person. A threat is made in person. Threats made over the
telephone or threatening letters are excluded. A threat of physical attack using words that refer to a weapon
would be considered a threat without a weapon.
Items noted with an asterisk “*” reflect guiding questions. Answers to these questions determine whether a school is
presented with subsequent items.

93

School Form
A weapon is any instrument or object used with the intent to threaten, injure, or kill. This includes look-alikes if
they are used to threaten others.

OFFN-1: Offenses - Number of Incidents
All schools and justice facilities, preschool-grade 12, UG
Instructions
•

•
•
•

Incidents at the school refer to incidents that occurred in school buildings, on school grounds, on school
buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities.
Count all incidents that occurred before, during, or after normal school hours.
Count incidents regardless of whether any disciplinary action was taken, and regardless of whether
students or non-students were involved.
Incidents that could be classified in multiple categories should be reported in the most egregious
category.

For the regular 2017-18 school year, not including intersession or summer, enter the number of
documented incidents of offenses shown in the table that occurred at school.
Number of Incidents
Rape or attempted rape
Sexual assault (other than rape)
Robbery with a weapon
Robbery with a firearm or explosive device
Robbery without a weapon
Physical attack or fight with a weapon
Physical attack or fight with a firearm or explosive device
Physical attack or fight without a weapon
Threats of physical attack with a weapon
Threats of physical attack with a firearm or explosive device
Threats of physical attack without a weapon
Possession of a firearm or explosive device
OFFN-2: Offenses - Firearm Use
All schools and justice facilities, preschool-grade 12, UG
Instructions
•

•
•

Incidents at the school refer to incidents that occurred in school buildings, on school grounds, on school
buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities.
Include only incidents that occurred during normal school hours or during times when school
activities/events were in session.
Include those incidents that occurred at school, regardless of whether a student or non-student used the
firearm or explosive device.

Items noted with an asterisk “*” reflect guiding questions. Answers to these questions determine whether a school is
presented with subsequent items.

94

School Form
For the regular 2017-18 school year, not including intersession or summer, was there at least one
incident at the school that involved a shooting (regardless of whether anyone was hurt)?
Permitted Values: Yes or No
Please select “Yes” or “No.”
OFFN-3: Offenses - Homicide
All schools and justice facilities, preschool-grade 12, UG
Instructions
•

•

Homicides at the school refer to homicides committed in school buildings, on school grounds, on school
buses, and at places that hold school-sponsored events or activities.
Consider only homicides that occurred during normal school hours or during times when school
activities/events were in session.

For the regular 2017-18 school year, not including intersession or summer, did any of the school's
students, faculty, or staff die as a result of a homicide committed at your school?
Permitted Values: Yes or No
Please select “Yes” or “No.”

Items noted with an asterisk “*” reflect guiding questions. Answers to these questions determine whether a school is
presented with subsequent items.

95