Security Resources
Books
Protecting Schools and Universities From Terrorism: A Guide for Administrators and Teachers, by Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Adams (US Army, Ret.) and Dr. Joshua Sinai, 2003, ASIS International. This guide provides a security framework and checklists to protect students and facilities from terrorist attacks, while exploring tactics terrorists have used in school scenarios.
Selling Us the Fortress: The Promotion of Techno-Security Equipment for Schools, by Ronnie Casella, 2006, Routledge. This book explores some of the advanced technology used to protect schools and other public places, plus how and why society is using the devices.
Maximum Security: The Culture of Violence in Inner-City Schools, by John Devine, 1997, The University of Chicago Press. Drawing on 10 years of experience in some of the most dangerous high schools in New York City, Devine explores what has and hasn't worked in preventing school violence.
Innocent Targets: When Terrorism Comes to School, by Michael Dorn and Chris Dorn, 2005, Safe Havens International Inc. This book explores different terrorist attacks in schools across the world and provides measures for preventing and facing threats in schools.
Introduction to Security, Seventh Edition, by Robert Fisher, 2003, Butterworth-Heinemann. This wide-ranging manual presents the latest in security issues and technology being used real-world situations.
Digital CCTV: A Security Professional's Guide, by Emily M. Harwood, 2007, Butterworth-Heinemann. Taking a look at the new wave of digital surveillance equipment, this book looks to guide security staff from a wide range of backgrounds on how new technology can help improve surveillance.
Essential Strategies for School Security: A Practical Guide for Teachers and School Administrators, by Richard A. Haynes and Catherine L. Henderson, 2001, C.C. Thomas. This book helps to educate school officials and educators on how effective security practices can save lives in an educational setting.
A Primer on Electronic Security for Schools, Universities, and Institutions, by Henry L. Homrighaus Jr., 2005, AuthorHouse. This guide helps administrators understand some of the new electronic security technology and how it can be used specifically in an educational setting.
At Issue Series—School Shootings, by Susan C. Hunnicut, 2006, Greenhaven Press. This anthology explores reasons for some of the most horrific school shootings and how the effected communities responded.
Safe Schools: A Security and Loss Prevention Plan, by J. Barry Hylton, 1996, Butterworth-Heinemann. This manual helps guide administrators through the process of creating a loss prevention and security plan.
Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design, by Barbara A. Nadel, 2004, McGraw-Hill Professional. Using architectural principles, this book helps show how building design, construction, and management can be used to improve security and disaster planning.
Rampage: The Social Roots of School Shootings, by Katherine S. Newman, Cybelle Fox, Wendy Roth, Jal Mehta, David Harding, 2004, Basic Books. This book examines in depth school shootings in Heath High School in Kentucky and Westside Middle School in Arkansas. It focuses on how and why the communities spawned the violent offenders.
School Crisis Survival Guide: Management Techniques and Materials for Counselors and Administrators (J-B Ed: Survival Guides), Suni Petersen and Ron L. Straub, 1991, Jossey-Bass. Tackling a number of different scenarios, this book helps guide counselors and administrators through the grief and recovery stages.
Classroom Killers? Hallway Hostages? How Schools Can Prevent and Manage School Crises, by Kenneth S. Trump, 2000, Corwin Press. Using past tragedies as a guide, this book helps guide schools through a proactive approach to improve safety.
Conferences/Tradeshows
October 3-5
Eighth National Conference on Preventing Crime, Atlanta
This conference is sponsored by the National Crime Prevention Council and will feature more than 60 workshops. The offerings of the conference attract crime prevention officers, law enforcement, criminal justice specialists, loss prevention specialists, community leaders, youth leaders, military, federal, state and local government officials.
October 22-25
CCTV-Analog to Digital: Applications and Advances in Surveillance, Annapolis, MD.
Video systems, among the fastest-growing technologies, are essential for the physical security and surveillance professional. Explore what 's on the horizon at this advanced-level program—an exciting, intense combination of technology seminars and testimonials from industry practitioners.
October 30-November 1
CPM 2007 East, Orlando, FL
This training event will provide you with a complete risk management education, as well as many opportunities to network with professional peers. CPM is dedicated to the convergence of business continuity, emergency management, and security to enable you to prepare a comprehensive and effective plan so an organization can prevail in the face of disaster.
November 6-8
Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness, San Francisco
This conference will provide the opportunity to highlight the technology and training tools currently available and being developed for the emergency responder community and to elicit responder technology requirements. This conference will also provide a forum for responders to discuss best practices and exchange information.
November 7-8
Enhanced Violence Assessment and Management, Denver
Violence Risk Assessment and Management is a specialized form of risk assessment that focuses on quantifying the potential violence risk between human beings, and then uses this insight to drive effective intervention strategies to minimize the risk and divert the behavior from the targeted victim. This program provides a clear understanding of how individuals decide to act violently toward others. It offers a practical, proven methodology to assess the behavior of these individuals and manage them away from violent acts toward specific targets.
Web Sites
International Association of Chiefs of Police
The International Association of Chiefs of Police offers prevention and intervention strategies emphasizing school, community, family, law enforcement, and justice system partnerships.
Keep Schools Safe
This blog offers school safety, security, and violence prevention resource tips.
National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers
The National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers is dedicated to providing professional information, training, and other resources to school districts and law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada.
National Center for Children Exposed to Violence
The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence serves as a national resource center for anyone seeking information about the effects of violence exposure on children and initiatives addressing these issues.
National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council provides numerous tips, resources, and publications devoted to helping stop school violence.
National School Safety Center
The National School Safety Center focuses national attention on cooperative solutions to problems that disrupt the educational process. The center also provides technical assistance, offers legal and legislative aid, and produces publications and films.
National Youth Violence Prevention Center
Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies, the National Youth Violence Prevention Center tackles tough questions regarding teen violence, how to prevent it, and how it influences the decisions that teens make.
Public School Parents Network
The Public School Parents Network brings together parents of public school students and focus on some of the issues facing schools today, including violence.
Ripple Effects
What do you do if you see someone being bullied? Ripple Effects produces interactive software that lets students practice responding to this and other tough situations students might encounter in school, at home, and in their communities.
Safe Schools Initiative
The Secret Service and Department of Education present a survey on school shootings and other attacks, with emphasis on prevention.
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE)
SAVE is a student-driven organization. Students learn about alternatives to violence and practice what they learn through school and community service projects. As they participate in SAVE. activities, students learn conflict management and mediation skills and the virtues of good citizenship, civility, and nonviolence.
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
SADD has become a peer leadership organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving, teen violence, and teen depression and suicide. The website offers materials to promote discussion between teens and parents, ideas for anti-violence message promotion, and other projects, along with statistics.
Teen Growth
Teen Growth has information about teen health, safety, and violence prevention, providing useful articles and question-and-answer lists.
The Center for Prevention of School Violence
Offering numerous resources and helpful tips for parents, school counselors, and school resource officers, The Center for Prevention of School Violence serves as think tank for efforts that promote safer schools and foster positive youth development.
US Department of Education
The US Department of Education offers a wide range of publications and resources regarding the safety of students and safer schools.
Youth Crime Watch
Youth Crime Watch assists students in developing youth-led programs, which can encompass up to nine key components that encourage “watch-out” activities such as crime reporting, and “help-out” activities such as mentoring or mediation. Youths take ownership of their own YCW programs for their schools, neighborhoods, public housing sites, recreational centers, or parks.
This article originally appeared in the 10/01/2007 issue of THE Journal.