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The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools
Title: The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools
Date: September 1999
Author: Mary W. Green
Institution: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice
Bibliographic Entry: Green, Mary W. The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools. Sandia National Laboratories, 1999.
Electronic Link: https://www.hsdl.org/homesec/docs/justice/nps03-080604-07.pdf&code=3a1473ab03962bf24b71df0f2991e347
Key Words: school safety, security technology
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
This guidebook is anticipated to be the first in a series of manuals designed and written for use by school administrators and law enforcement agencies for considering security technology to ensure safe schools. The goals of these documents are to provide nontechnical, nonvendor-specific information on:
• The kinds of security products available on the market
• The strengths and weaknesses of products and their expected effectiveness in a school environment
• The costs of these products, including installation, long-term operational and maintenance expenses, manpower, and training
• Requirements to include in Requests For Quotes (RFQs) for a product
• Legal issues that may need to be addressed
Topic areas include: security concepts and operational issues, video surveillance, weapons detection devices (walk-through and handheld metal detectors and x-ray baggage scanners), entry controls, and duress alarms. Although security products can have different applications, this document covers products that can be applicable to issues of violence in schools: video surveillance, weapon detection, entry control, and duress alarms. Most of the issues and philosophies covered are geared toward middle schools and high schools, but elementary schools will likely find the technologies to also be applicable to their facilities.
Future volumes are expected to cover issues and products involving bomb threats and explosives detection; drug residue and drug vapor detection; drug use detection; alcohol use detection; interior and exterior intrusion detection sensors; alarm communications; antigraffiti sealers; false fire alarm pulls; glass-break sensors; two-way radios; fencing; antitheft property marking; doors, locks, and key control; Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles; and parking lot safety.
Name of Researcher: Alison Stevens
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: April 17, 2007