Safety Law News for June 20, 2018

 

 

  • In Wisconsin, the Green Bay School Board voted unanimously to reject a proposal to put armed guards in its schools.  The preference of the Board is to provide social workers and guidance counselors to help kids before a crisis arises.

 

Safety Law News for June 14, 2018

  • In Indiana, the Portage Township School Board approved a new school safety plan.  The plan will emphasize mental health counseling, monitoring of student electronic devices, expanding the bullying hotline, adoption of restorative justice principles, and replacing full-time police officers with part-time officers.

 

 

 

  • In Nevada, the Washoe County School Board has reaffirmed its opposition to proposals to arm educators in its schools.  The resolution adopted by the Board calls upon state and federal authorities to provide funding for additional school police officers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, firearm safety education programs, and security features in school buildings.

Safety Law News for June 7, 2018

  • In Texas, educators and law enforcement officials in Williamson County have co-signed a public letter calling for an in-house police department for the Round Rock ISD.  The current estimate for establishing the school district police department is $1.08 million for one police chief, four officers and a dispatcher for the 2018-19 school year.
  • In California, school-based law enforcement officers in San Francisco are taking part in a four-day program called Policing the Teen Brain.  The training is designed to help the officers improve relationships with children, de-escalate situations, and avoid the use of force.  The training includes a discussion with a psychologist who explains mental health issues prevalent among teens and how police interactions can be traumatizing.
  • In Kentucky, the school district safety committee in Marshall County has approved new security policies. The measures include walk-through metal detectors at all entrances of the high school and both middle schools, increasing the number of school resource officers from one to five, and prohibiting backpacks at middle and high schools.

Safety Law News for June 5, 2018

  • In Kentucky, the Warren County Superintendent is asking the board of education to implement the recommendations of the Regional Safety Task Force.   The task force recommends the expansion of the school resource officer program and mental health services and the purchase of hand-held metal detectors.
  • Nationally, a new research study by Education Week compiles the responses of nearly 400 school resources officers on their duties.  The study reports that seventy-three percent of SROs in school-police departments say their schools specify the types of issues SROs can intervene in as compared to 56 percent of those in local police/sheriff’s offices who assign officers to schools.
  • In Ohio, the Talawanda Board of Education has approved two personnel policies to deal with school safety.   School resource officers will be assigned to each district building and social workers will be placed in each elementary school.
  • In Maine, the state has tasked the Juvenile Justice Assistance Group to study the use of school resource officers.  The study will look at how school officers are hired, trained and how effective they are in dealing with a whole range of school-based issues.  There are nearly 67 school resource law enforcement officers working in 93 schools.  There are 620 public schools in the state.

Safety Law News for May 31, 2018

  • In Florida, the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District held that a judge abused his discretion when it granted a student’s motion to dismiss an on-campus marijuana possession violation based upon judge’s perspective of the most suitable way to address juvenile’s circumstances.  The court held that despite the judge’s belief that dismissal was in best interest of public and parties, the state attorney makes the final determination to prosecute.  (State v. A.J.)

 

 

 

Safety Law News for May 25, 2018

  • In New York, the Warren County Supervisors have discovered that it will cost $2,500 per year to have each of the Sheriff’s Office school resource officers covered by the county’s liability insurance.  County leaders agreed to have the county absorb the cost for the upcoming year and discuss the matter with schools for future years.

 

  • In Wyoming, the Campbell County School District has approved a new policy that will arm school staff members.  Six school officials will undergo 40 hours of active shooter training that will be specific to what could happen with a shooter in school.

 

 

  • In Wyoming, the Casper City Council passed a resolution declaring a commitment to play an active role in preventing school violence.  A budget proposal looks to tripling the number of police officers working inside its schools.