School Safety Law Blog – Page 106 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law for January 27, 2015

by Bernie James • January 27, 2015

In Colorado, one year after the legalization of marijuana, the number of marijuana-related arrests in Denver public schools has grown by 6 percent.

Washington, D.C.-area public school districts utilize more than 30,000 surveillance cameras inside school buildings to monitor school safety.

McDowell County, North Carolina school resource officers have created a new program to educate elementary school students on how to handle the problems that plague youngsters in today’s society. The program is called TIM – Teaching students lifesaving lessons, Improving their quality of life, and Maintaining a safe learning environment.

In Virginia, Isle of Wight County officials are in disagreement over the rules for school resource officers wearing body-mounted cameras on school grounds. School officials wrongly interpret the use of cameras to implicate the federal privacy law FERPA. The USDOE has repeatedly made it clear that images of students captured on video devices that are maintained by the school’s law enforcement unit are not considered education records under FERPA.

Safety Law News for January 22, 2015

by Bernie James • January 22, 2015

The Snohomish, Washington School District has revised its school safety plan after the fatal shootings last year. It has developed close relationships with police, fire, and health agencies, as well as local FEMA around seven (7) key safety strategies.

$45 million dollars has been received by the officials of Newtown, Connecticut after the Sandy Hook rampage. A report has been issued on how the money is being spent.

After a 14-year-old girl was knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted on her walk to school, the mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania asked the school board to reinstate the school resource officers program. But school board members have said that they are not ready to commit its financial resources to the program.

The New Jersey State Department of Education has released the Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report for the 2013 to 2014 school year.

Safety Law News for January 16, 2015

by Bernie James • January 16, 2015

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10^th Circuit ruled that use of twist-lock by an SRO to arrest a nine-year-old student who was accused of stealing school property did not violate the Fourth Amendment prohibition of excessive force. [Hawker v. Sandy City, No. 13–4139 (10th Cir. Dec. 5, 2014)

The U.S. District Court in New Mexico ruled that a school resource officer had probable cause to arrest a disabled student for battery of a fellow student and a teacher. The SRO did not have duty to investigate whether student’s disability rendered her incapable of forming requisite intent for battery of school employee before arresting her. [J.H. ex rel. J.P. v. Bernalillo County].

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5^th Circuit ruled that a public high school student’s suspension and transfer as discipline for his off-campus Internet posting of a vulgar rap song that criticized two named male athletic coaches was a violation of his freedom of speech under the First Amendment. [Bell v. Itawamba County School Bd.]

The U.S. District Court in Louisiana ruled that an SRO should have known that it is unlawful excessive force to slam a student into walls when the student is not resisting arrest, attempting to escape, or otherwise posing a threat at the time of the seizure. [Curran v. Aleshire].

Safety Law News for January 13, 2015

by Bernie James • January 13, 2015

In Pennsylvania, the Luzerne County Public Schools reported a combined 1,146 offenses in 2010. Last year it was 584, and this year 565. Officials credit the decline to the decision to hire a full complement of School Police Officers — currently 14 with another about to be hired — and use of metal detectors on all students, staff, and visitors at all schools.

Florida Attorney General’s AG Opinion on the legality of a school district employing private security guards who carry firearms. [Advisory Legal Opinion – AGO 2014-13]

In Massachusetts, officials in Danvers are implementing a new lockdown plan. Called the Enhanced Lockdown plan, it will allow staff, faculty, and students to use common sense in a crisis.

In New York, the city of Syracuse has settled a lawsuit filed by two high school students hit with Tasers by police. Under the settlement, the city has changed its policy to restrict how Syracuse police use Tasers against children.

Safety Law News for January 5, 2015

by Bernie James • January 5, 2015

In Texas, training is ongoing to implement a new law that authorizes specially selected employees to be undercover, armed “School Marshals” on campus.

In Canada, the number of police patrolling Toronto schools has decreased because of the budget difficulties, but weapons-related suspensions have increased.

After a year-long debate, the Lebanon, Pennsylvania School Board has voted to allow its school resource officers to carry weapons.

In Winter Haven, Florida, the administrator who authorized an unannounced active shooter drill during classes has been suspended.

School resource officers in Longview, Texas, are beginning to train the “Kid Escape” program to students with the goal of teaching children abduction prevention techniques.

Safety Law News for 12/22/14

by Bernie James • December 22, 2014

School districts in Western New York will receive money in this year’s state budget to support new and existing school resource officer programs. About $1.9 million was allocated in the state’s budget for SRO funding statewide in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting.

In September, Missouri lawmakers loosened gun restrictions by passing a bill that allows school districts to designate teachers or administrators to become school protection officers. A growing number of Missouri schools that have chosen to arm teachers.

Pennsylvania officials have announced that $3.9 million has been awarded to 114 schools and municipalities to fund the hiring of police and resource officers in schools across Pennsylvania. Priority for funding is given to schools and municipalities that employ officers who have completed additional training related to interaction with children and adolescents within a school setting.

In California, a policy that allows Merced County Sheriff’s Department administrators to search the personal cellphones of deputies is at the center of controversy. A deputy’s personal cellphone can be searched when “reasonable suspicion” exists of possible misconduct. Supervisors, detectives, and some school resource officers use their personal cellphones for work-related purposes.

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