NCJ Number
227995
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2009 Pages: 38,40,42
Date Published
June 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article explores best practices and technologies for emergency notification systems available to institutions of learning.
Abstract
In the past, security systems have focused on protecting the physical assets of a school; today, the focus has shifted to protecting human assets. The Clery Act, amended in August 2008, requires institutions of higher education that participate in the Federal student financial aid program to provide students and employees with timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to their safety. Colleges and universities use many different vended solutions to send out warnings. K-12 schools also benefit from the use of emergency notification systems, especially as technology continues to advance and best practices for putting these systems to work get even better. This article predicts that within 6 months to a year U.S. notification systems at universities will be tied to multifunction cell phones that can serve as a secure ID, panic device, control building entry, provide computer access, and allow instantaneous lockdown. In addition to security features, phones will let students do things like charge food to debit cards, and check out library books. This technology is already being used in Europe. Also discussed are the problems with current in-place systems.