Campus Security | What are Schools Doing to Keep Students Safe?

 

Schools Doing to Keep Students Safe

According to “Indicators of School Crime and Safety” an annual report produced by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, the 2019 report indicates a real need for school safety officials to stay vigilant. 

The report indicates:

  • Based on the 2017 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), students ages 12 to 18 experienced 827,000 total victimizations (i.e., theft and nonfatal violent victimization) at school and 503,800 total victimizations away from school.
  • From 2000 to 2017, there were 153 casualties (67 killed and 86 wounded) in active shooter incidents at elementary and secondary schools and 143 casualties (70 killed and 73 wounded) in active shooter incidents at postsecondary institutions.
  • In 2017, about 6% of students ages 12 to 18 reported being called hate-related words at school during the school year, representing a decrease from 12% in 2001. This percentage also decreased between 2001 and 2017 for male and female students as well as for white, black, and Hispanic students.
  • Between 2001 and 2017, the percentage of students ages 12 to 18 who reported that gangs were present at their school during the school year decreased overall (from 20% to 9%), as well as for students from urban areas (from 29% to 11%), suburban areas (from 18% to 8%), and rural areas (from 13% to 7%).
  • During the 2015-16 school year, 47% of schools reported one or more crime incidents to police. The percentage of public schools reporting incidents to police was lower in 2015-16 than in every prior survey year.

Top School Security Technologies

Everyone wants schools in their community to be safe and the good news is that schools are responding to today’s security challenges and threats by implementing effective high-technology security systems and security support technologies. 

What are Schools Doing to Keep Students Safe?

Anonymous Alerts

Today, many schools are using anonymous alert apps to report bullying or other threatening situations.

Visitor Management Systems 

Most schools require a signature and ID before entering campus, but an increasing number of campuses are implementing visitor management systems offering varying degrees of security and sophistication. 

Access Control 

Not only are schools managing visitors they are also implementing access control to limit access to the campus and sensitive areas of the campus. These systems can be controlled remotely and can even help contain a threat. 

Video Surveillance Systems

Today, around 90% of campuses in the US have at least one video surveillance camera in place. Video surveillance technologies have become amazing advanced and are a powerful tool in protection. Cameras should be placed in the school hallways, large rooms (such as the library, cafeteria, and gym), and especially near the front entrance. 

Emergency Communication/Mass Notification

Communication in an emergency is a critical component of increasing safety. Many schools have and are implementing emergency communication systems that allow them to communicate with staff, students, and emergency personnel in a crisis situation. 

The safety of students and staff at your campus is of utmost importance. If you have questions about how to meet your security needs, call SSP today. 888-540-0175.