This article, part of the special issue of TECHBeat, posted on the JUSTNET.org Web site, discusses a new tool, the National Institute of Justice School Critical Incident Planning - Generator, for developing plans for dealing with critical incidents.
Following the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, in December of 2012, new efforts are being focused on the issue of school safety and how to keep children and adults safe in school settings. This article, "School Critical Incident Planning - Generator (SCIP-G) Helps Create Coordinated Response in Sumter County," is part of the special issue of TECHBeat posted on the JUSTNET.org Web site. The article discusses a new tool used by the Sumter (SC) Police Department to respond to an emergency at any one of their 30-plus schools located throughout the county. The tool, SCIP-G (School Critical Incident Planning - Generator) was developed by the National Institute of Justice and is used to create and implement ICS (Incident Command System) plans for dealing with critical incidents on school campuses. The article discusses the efforts of the Sumter PD to develop and implement the plan, and to involve other law enforcement agencies and school administrators in the county in these efforts.