NCJ Number
121796
Editor(s)
S Harper
Date Published
1989
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses school security issues, crisis prevention strategies, crisis response, the aftermath of a crisis, and suicide clusters.
Abstract
Schools have a legal responsibility to protect students and staff from such threats as foreseeable criminal activity; identifiable dangerous students; dangerous persons negligently admitted to or placed in the school; and dangerous school staff negligently selected, retained, or trained. Some preventive security measures include a local school security committee that plans safety measures, a comprehensive crisis management plan, volunteers to patrol neighborhoods surrounding the school, limited access points to school grounds, and courses that teach students crime prevention measures and prosocial behaviors. Architectural planning for new schools should take into account crime prevention through environmental design. In planning for response to a crisis, schools should focus on assigning staff roles, communications, transportation, identification badges for emergency personnel, and media relations. The aftermath of a crisis must address post-traumatic stress symptoms, the grief process, counseling centers, and reassurance about school safety. Schools should also be prepared to address a cluster of suicides or suicide attempts. 19-item resource list (organizations and publications), appended relevant media articles.