This guide from the National Gang Center is designed to provide schools and law enforcement with sound practices and collaborative techniques to identify, assess, and address gang activity in the school setting. [The National Gang Center (NGC) is managed by the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR).]

School officials routinely seek to balance the interests of safety and privacy for students. While the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally requires written parent or "eligible student" consent before an educational agency (district) or institution (school) discloses student education records and the personally…

The overarching goal of schools is to create a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive and learn. This begins with a dedication to students' social and emotional well-being, and effective policies and programs that create a culture of trust. Such a culture provides an optimal learning environment, and is also a proactive step…

This updated and expanded new edition continues the theme of the second edition that presents a framework by which the reader can gain a broader and deeper understanding of the issues involved with campus violence incidents. In order to understand the current state of campus violence, two sources of information must be considered--the factual and…

Gang affiliation is not something that students leave behind when they come to school. Gang members do not leave their behaviors, attitudes, and conflicts outside the school environment. Gangs, unchecked and unidentified in a school setting, often engage in threat and intimidation; physical and cyber bullying; fighting; recruiting; and criminal…

Campus security and safety is an important feature of postsecondary education. The Department of Education is committed to assisting schools in providing students nationwide a safe environment in which to learn and to keep students, parents and employees well informed about campus security. These goals were advanced by the Crime Awareness and…

Our nation's postsecondary institutions are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students, faculty, and staff who live, work, and study on campus. Many of these emergencies occur with little to no warning; therefore, it is critical for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to plan ahead to help ensure the safety and…

The purpose of this book is to examine violence on college campuses and prepare campus practitioners to both prevent and respond to violence. Since the first edition was published, major violence has redefined the landscape, most notably the experiences of 9/11 and the tragedy of the Virginia Tech massacre. On the positive side, however, great…

Presents a road map for colleges and universities to follow when establishing an in-house protective services department, focusing on: the leadership and command structure, screening and hiring of security officers, training of campus security personnel, documentation of officers' actions, policies and procedures (particularly regarding the use of…

The School Safety Review Checklist is an important component of the broader school crisis resources that have been developed by the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team. The Team is comprised of members from the law enforcement, emergency management, health, and education organizations who have worked throughout the year to update school and…

This report indicates that while school security systems should be tailored to the school system's specific needs and problems, most must take cognizance of the following concerns: (1) evaluation of current security arrangements; (2) degree of dependence upon local law enforcement bodies; (3) management of the school system; (4) analysis of school…

The article reports on a 1989-90 survey which examined the campus crime rate and perceived issues at 219 colleges and universities. Institutional liability is addressed; and ways to reduce liability are recommended, including distributing notices to keep room doors and windows locked, conducting crime prevention workshops, and increasing security…

Explains what security officers do, how to hire and utilize them, and how they can help schools. (JM)

Attempts to generalize about sexual harassment on campus by examining narrative examples of selected cases through media coverage, interviews, or official documents, only to learn that those whose jobs it is to work with sexual harassment cases find there are no fixed rules. Sees need for due process, clearer institutional policies, better…

The possibility of an armed intruder, serious bomb threat, or suicide cluster may seem remote, but even without a major crisis, schools are subjected to a number of other potentially disruptive events. Each year three million crimes are committed on school grounds, and on any given day an estimated 100,000 students carry a gun to school. Being…