School Safety Law Blog – Page 107 – News and Information for School Safety

Safety Law News for 12/3/14

by Bernie James • December 3, 2014

New Mexico Supreme Court rules that Juvenile Code 32A–2–14 provides children with greater statutory protection to remain silent than mandated by the federal or state constitutions. 32A–2–14 must be strictly construed and applied to confessions obtained by school officials who interrogate students. These confessions cannot be used for juvenile delinquency petitions unless the provisions of 32A–2–14 are satisfied. [State v. Antonio T].

Survey results of high-school students in New Jersey indicates that 34 percent of students surveyed had reported seeing or knowing about a weapon in school to an authority figure in the prior three months. The New Jersey Department of Education provided funding for the study through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program.

The New Jersey School Boards Association’s School Security Task Force has released its final report of best practices in school safety and climate, “What Makes Schools Safe?”

In New York, the Rochester School District is negotiating a new contract with the Rochester Police Department to provide school resource officers in schools, with a new focus on restorative justice practices for wayward students.

by Bernie James • November 26, 2014

Federal court rules that a school resource officer did not violate the civil rights of a special education student when he arrested her, handcuffed her, and transported her to the juvenile detention center following an altercation in the classroom. [J.H. ex rel. J.P. v. Bernalillo County]

California appellate court rules that a student’s act in walking away from a school resource officer, while knowing that officer wanted to talk with him, did not constitute resisting a police officer under California law, where juvenile did not physically resist the officer, and officer did not assert any authority or attempt to physically restrain juvenile. [In re Juan A]

Federal court denies summary judgment and qualified immunity to a school resource officer who confronted an unruly student—who posed no threat to the safety of the officer or anyone else – and used unreasonable force by (1) applying an arm-bar to restrain the student, (2) forcing the student up against the metal lockers, and (3) lifting the student off the ground using the arm bar. This conduct resulted in breaking the student’s arm. [Williams v. Nice]

by Bernie James • November 21, 2014

A School Safety Task Force will recommend that South Carolina schools practice more safety lock-down drills and have more School Resource Officers and more school psychologists.

Police and school officials in Providence, Rhode Island have signed an inter-agency agreement on a safe schools program in which principals have the final say over school discipline.

The Knox County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department now requires its school resource officers to stay current on online bullying practices and has implemented online bullying training.

The North Carolina Center for Safer Schools has released its 2014 Report to the Governor. It includes the implementation of a new state law that requires that schools have a school safety plan.

by Bernie James • November 17, 2014

In New Jersey, Hackensack School District officials reached an agreement with the Mayor and City Council to continue the school resource officer program by placing two resource officers in the high and middle schools until the 2018-2019 school year.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has released a survey of more than 200 school resource officers on the impact of their work on school safety.

South Bend, Indiana school officials have continued to implement new policies designed to reduce the overall number of students put out of class for behavioral issues. A new student code of conduct has been implemented and a culturally sensitive Positive Behavior Interventions and Support program.

In Indiana, H.B. 1287 has been introduced. It would require schools to establish an evidence-based plan for improving student behavior and discipline, as well as report data related to disciplinary and law enforcement action in schools and for the state to work with schools to correct those disparities.

by Bernie James • November 11, 2014

In Massachusetts, new law requires every chief of police, in consultation with the superintendent, to assign at least one school resource officer to serve the school district. The roadblock for many cash-strapped local police departments and school districts in implementing this provision is funding.

The school resource officer’s program in Tucson, Arizona schools is on hold because of fears about Arizona’s strict immigration law. Parents and school officials want to make sure their kids’ immigration status will not be questioned at school.

The Las Vegas, Nevada Police Department will receive $1.6 million in grant funding from a COPS – U.S. Justice Department program to fund salaries and benefits for 13 school resource officers for about three years.

In Tennessee, the Bradley County Sheriff and Bradley County Superintendent have signed a Memorandum of Understanding expanding the School Resource Officer program to all Bradley County Schools.

The Pinellas County, Florida schools district police department, which purchased 28 M-16s for its school resource officers, is returning the assault rifles to the federal government.

by Bernie James • November 4, 2014

The San Leandro Police Department was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, which will be used to hire two school resource officers for the San Leandro School District’s high schools and middle schools.

Spokane, Washington school officials agreed in early 2013 to allow district-employed school resource officers to carry guns in schools. Yet not all school resource officers are certain they want to carry guns, at least not at their current pay.

In Indiana, the Crawfordsville Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office have recognized how well students receive police officers in the schools.

Pennsylvania legislators have introduces three bills on school safety, House Bill 896, House Bill 715, and Senate Bill 1193.

Six years after budget constraints forced the Salinas, California Police Department to cut the School Resource Officers program; it received a $3.4 million federal grant to reinstate the program for three years.