School Safety Tips

  • Apr 29, 2009

The National Crime Prevention Council offers tips and resources for students, parents, and teachers to help keep America's schools safe.

Although many schools are safe, others can be just as susceptible to crime and violence as other environments. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 17 children and teens were killed at school and five children killed themselves in the year ending June 30, 2002.

Moreover, in a 2001 survey by the National School Safety Center (NSSC), more than 60 percent of high school boys and 15 percent of middle school boys said they could get a gun if they wanted to. At the same time, 69 percent of high school and 27 percent of middle school boys said they knew how to get drugs. Thirty percent of the kids reported being bullied. In what could be an ominous precursor to adult behavior, nearly a quarter of the students in another 2001 survey published by NSSC reported that they knew at least one student at their school who had been a victim of dating violence.

There are no easy answers to the disturbing questions these statistics raise, but it is clear that collaboration between parents, educators, law enforcement, and crime prevention practitioners is essential.

  • Enforce zero-tolerance policies toward the presence of weapons, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
  • Establish and enforce drug- and gun-free zones.
  • Establish policies that declare that anything that is illegal off campus is illegal on campus.
  • Engage students in maintaining a good learning environment by establishing a teen court.
  • Develop protocols between law enforcement and the school about ways to share information on at-risk youth.
  • Develop resource lists that provide referral services for students who are depressed or otherwise under stress.
  • Involve teens in designing and running programs such as mediation, mentoring, peer assistance, School Crime Watch, and graffiti removal programs.
  • Insist that all students put outerwear in their lockers during school hours.
  • Require all students to tuck in their shirts to keep them from hiding weapons.
  • Develop and enforce dress codes that ban gang-related and gang-style clothing.
  • Establish a policy of positive identification such as ID badges for administrators, staff, students, and visitors.
  • Deny students permission to leave school for lunch and other non-school-related activities during school hours.

Featured

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.