NCJ Number
77736
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The model is intended to assist Iowa school districts in developing a procedure for handling their relations with law enforcement officials that balances students' and parents' rights with the responsibilities of law enforcement officials.
Abstract
Such a balance can be maintained only through a good working relationship between the school and law enforcement personnel in which each recognizes the other's responsibilities and the rights of students and their parents. The model should be used as a focal point of discussion rather than merely accepted as it stands. The model policy is a short statement expressing general school district philosophy concerning law enforcement activities in relation to schools. It states that (1) a reasonable cooperative effort be maintained between school administration and law enforcement agencies; (2) that law enforcement officials may be summoned to schools for the purpose of investigation, maintaining and restoring order, or preventing injury to persons or property; and (3) administrators have the responsibility to determine when such assistance is necessary. The school district administrators shall at all times act in a manner which protects the rights of students and parents. The rules apply the policy to specific situations and cover such areas as administrative investigations, law enforcement investigations, questioning students, violations of criminal law, taking a student into custody, and maintaining regular communication between school officials and law enforcement officials. (Author abstract modified)