Johns Hopkins Produces a Comprehensive Report on School Safety Technology

Source: Document Title: A Comprehensive Report on School Safety Technology. (2016). https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250274.pdf

LEARN Brief and Infographic Credits: n/a

Overview: 

This article covers best practices in planning and implementation, and scrutinizes each technology in terms of usage, benefits, concerns, cost, emerging advancements, current vendors, and additional resources. Educators can use this report as an encyclopedia to navigate school safety technologies.

This report is encyclopedic (and should be used accordingly) and provides extensive information about the full range of technologies from simple access control (locks) to sophisticated surveillance and detection systems. The press release and the executive summary provide helpful entry points to the 480- page work.

Among the topics covered are chapters on a strong, best practice approach to planning and implementation, access control, alarms and sensors, communications, lighting, software applications, surveillance, and weapons detection.  Where applicable, each technology is addressed through a standard review that encompasses:

1. Introduction to the technology
2. How it is used
3. What makes the technology good
4. Concerns about the technology
5. Cost considerations
6. Emerging technologies 
7. Current vendors
8. Further reading

In addition to the topic chapters, the authors provide a legal review of the field and a brief review of the literature. Although produced in 2016, the methodology and processes in this report should remain relevant and provide a lens for the consideration of new technologies.

Key Insights:

This comprehensive report, funded by the Department of Justice, offers a detailed review of technologies used to enhance school safety, ranging from simple access control mechanisms to sophisticated surveillance and detection systems. 

Action Steps: School administrators should review the attached document for in-depth information on various technologies used to promote school safety.  

Full Study: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250274.pdf