No abstract

Weapon possession on college campuses causes great concern, but there remains a lack of research examining the determinants of this phenomenon. Previous studies addressing weapon possession have primarily focused on either K-12 or the general adult population. Unlike previous studies, this study examined the weapon possession among college students using data collected from a mid-sized university in Missouri, and 451 students participated. Weapon possession and other theoretical factors were measured through the self-administered survey. Logistical regression analysis revealed that weapon socialization was the most significant factor in predicting student weapon carrying. Also, gender and age were significant factors in explaining campus-based weapon possession. This research has a limitation with generalizability because the data were collected from only a single university with convenient sampling. Future studies need to cover a wider range of college students from a variety of different universities with random sampling.

In the summer of 2008 a multi-disciplinary group of university students were provided an opportunity to tour on-site and observe facility staff in the course of their daily activities. Unlike the usual internship experience, the Juvenile Corrections Critical Assessment Tour allowed students access to nine juvenile facilities in four different states. Students were able to identify and evaluate personal preferences in system, facility, and mentor practices in a condensed four week period. Student-to-student and student-to-practitioner debriefings about specific observations in the facilities greatly enhanced the experience, creating a unique and effective workplace learning opportunity. By tightening the coupling between faculty in higher education and practitioners in the field, students were able to observe and explore lecture materials with the benefit of firsthand experience.