Security | News
PublicEngines Launches Platform, Apps for Anonymous Incident Reporting
PublicEngines has unveiled a platform and mobile apps that allow students to anonymously report suspicious activities such as bullying, drug and weapon possession, and potential suicides. Announced this week, TipSoft for Education and mobile app TipSubmit Mobile, are available now.
TipSoft for Education is a cloud-based application that provides the tools for students to securely report school-related incidents to administrators, which can then be passed on to Crime Stoppers, law enforcement agencies, or others if necessary. After the initial report is made, students and administrators can continue to communicate through the platform and apps for additional evidence gathering and questioning. TipSoft also provides incident management and reporting tools for administrators.
Features of TipSoft for Education include:
- Unlimited message length;
- The option for students to submit anonymous reports online, through text-messaging, or Android or iOS apps;
- SSL encryption of messages, which are saved on software-as-a-service 70-compliant servers;
- The ability to geo-tag and attach videos and images;
- Tracking of each tip by status and priority; and
- Tools for administrators to create offense types, input notes, and use keywords to tag tips.
In addition, TipSoft allows school districts to deliver text-message or e-mail emergency alerts to teachers, students, and parents from the online platform or mobile apps. TipSoft provides alert sign-up forms that can be embedded onto district Web sites, and messages can also be automatically posted on district Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Schools in Douglas County, CO, have deployed TipSoft.
"Colorado has taken a very proactive stance to improve the safety of students in our schools. As part of this effort, Douglas County implemented TipSoft from PublicEngines, and we've received important tips about weapons, fights, and drugs. However, the biggest surprise from implementing TipSoft has been in suicide prevention. As of December 2012, we have been able to save 11 lives as a result of confidential information received through TipSoft,” said Phyllis Harvey, Douglas County coordinator for Youth Education and Safety in Schools, in a prepared statement.
For more information, visit publicengines.com.
About the Author
Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at timothyjsohn@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @editortim.