School Safety Law Blog – Page 110 – News and Information for School Safety

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.

Safety Law News for 12/16/14

by Bernie James • December 16, 2014

Orange County, Florida Public Schools, the tenth largest school district in the U.S., has voted to establish its own school police force. The officers will have arrest powers and be allowed to carry weapons on school property.

In Pennsylvania, York City police officials received approval to equip school resource officers with body cameras. The new policy will require the SROs to record incidents when officers are called to respond.

Texas A&M school police are implementing a body cam policy. The body cams will be worn by all uniformed personnel on duty. The goal is to provide more accurate accounts for written reports and court testimony and to provide data to evaluate policies, procedures, and use-of-force incidents.

In Virginia, incidents of bullying in Henry County Public Schools has decreased more than 40 percent over the last four school years. The role of school resource officers developing personal relationships with students is cited as a contributing factor.

Safety Law News for 12/9/14

by Bernie James • December 9, 2014

The Alabama State Department of Education has released the 2013 Annual School Incident Report. The report contains big data on student misconduct for all schools in the state.

The school superintendent in Boston, Massachusetts has vetoed a plan to equip school resource officers with pepper spray. The community input as solidly against implementing the policy.

Mansfield, Ohio police and school officials have implemented a school safety policy that will provide three police radios to the principals of the high school, middle school, and elementary school. The principals will use the radios to communicate directly with police in the event a critical situation occurs.

The Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent has announced a new policy in which all suspensions of students of color for nonviolent behavior will be reviewed by a special leadership team. The policy is part of an effort to eliminate disproportionate suspension rates by 2018.

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.

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