Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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The Ohio Resource Network for Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
University of Cincinnati Bonnie Hedrick, Ph.D., Director
Robert Canning, M.Ed., Assistant Director
United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education
Washington D.C July 2004ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S . Dept. of
Education, P.O. Box 1398 Jessup MD 20794-1398
1—877-433-7827
United States Departments of Education and Secret
Service Final Report”
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications
for the prevention of school attacks in the United States
Investigated shooters from 37 incidents of targeted school violence that occurred in the U. S. from
December 1974 through May 2000
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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After extensive examination,
the following Final Report Findings were cited
• Attackers were 13-18 yrs old (85 percent, n=35)
• Three quarters of the attackers were white (76 percent, n=31)
• Almost two thirds of the attackers came from two parent families (63 percent, n=26)
• Largest group were well socialized and considered mainstream (41 percent n=17)
• Nearly two-thirds of the attackers had never been or rarely in trouble at school (63 percent n=26)
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Final Report and Findings continued
• Largest group of attackers doing well in school As and Bs in their courses (41 percent n=17)
• Most attackers showed no marked change in academic performance (56 percent n=23), friendship patterns (73 percent n=30), interest in school (59 percent n=24), or school disciplinary problems (68 percent n=28) prior to their attacks.
• Almost three-quarters of the attackers felt persecuted, bullied or injured by others prior to the attack (71 percent n=29)
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Final Report and Findings continued
-- ATTACKERS --
• Interest in violent movies (27 percent n=11)
• Interest in violent books (24 percent n=10)
• Interest in violent video games (12 percent n=5)
• Interest in violence in their own writings such as poems, essays, or journal entries (37 percent n=15)
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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HOWEVER every shooter displayed behavior leading up to the incident
* difficulty coping with loss* their behavior was flagged by
others at school* other students were talked to… * other student(s) were asked to
take part…* almost three-quarters of the
attackers felt persecuted, bullied or injured by others prior to the attack
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Final Report 10 key findings
1. Attacks were rarely sudden, impulsive acts.
2. Most attackers did not threaten targets prior to attack.
3. Most attackers engaged in behavior prior to the incident that caused others to be concerned.
4. Most attackers had difficulty coping with significant losses or personal failures.
5. Most attackers had access to and had used weapons prior to the attack.
6. Most attackers were stopped by other means other than law enforcement interventions.
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Final Report 10 key findings, continued
7. Other people knew about the attacker’s idea and/or plan to attack.
8. In many cases other students were involved in some capacity.
9. 71 percent of the attackers felt persecuted, bullied or were injured by others prior to the attack.
There is no accurate or useful profile.
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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37 Incidents of targeted school violence by month
September 25th
October 1st 5th 12th(2) and 15th
November 8th 15th and 19th
December 1st(2), 4th 6th 14th(2) 15th and 30th
January 18th 21st and 23rd
February 2nd 8th and 19th
March 2nd 24th 25th
April 16th 20th and 24th
May 1st 14th 18th 19th 20th 24th and 26th(2)
9
28
School Year Monthly Incidents
spri
ng
fall
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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1992-2005 All School Year Violence
First half vs Second half
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
August -December
January -June
injuredkilled
43 Students killed
23 Students killed
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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School Safety Plans need to address
Mitigation/ prevention (minimize or mitigate impact thru policy/ steps to improve culture and climate)
Preparedness….. It will occur, so crisis plan is needed
Response…containment vs. resolution
Recovery …meeting mental health needs
Why? If a school, district, or state does not take all necessary actions in good faith to create safe schools, it could be vulnerable to a suit for negligence.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education: Safe and Drug-Free Schools Division
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Emergency Operations Manual Template
All hazards approachLevels of threatFirst Responder contact informationEmergency Staging areasEmergency Preparedness Roles and ResponsibilitiesSchool Drills
Cancel, lockdown, evacuation, shelter-in-place etc.
Secondary Protective Response OptionsDrop, cover and hold, hit the deck
Forms (ex: bomb threat caller information to be collected)
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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“I believe that parents drop off their kids in the morning at my door….safe and sound. It is my job to keep them as safe as humanly possible until I give them back…
but I’ve got to tell you, every school is but one breath away from what could be a major crisis.”Mike Hall, Principal
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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So what should a “one breath away” School Safety Plan look like?
The School’s best safety plan is its people… Kids are partners “safe keepers” of each other and adults. They hear and read about school violence, and they want a
safe environment too.
The school’s best safety plan has a philosophy that makes communication key to preventing violence
And Communication involves:
* A well thought out Visitor policy that can do two things:
1. Welcome all; and
2. Asking the visitor why they are there
* word of mouth ….kids tapping into other kid’s problems
* trusting adults …in the building for students to talk with
* trusting adults …that students know will handle their concern properly
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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Communication continued
* Keyless entry system (computer control to change quickly)
* Parking lot cameras with trained students empowered to to watch them (safe keepers)
Needed…
a personalized environment (school climate and culture that is accepting of all students/staff), break the student body down into smaller units. So if a student is having a problem, support people can deal with that effectively
Note: metal detectors, surveillance cameras don’t keep watch…. People keep watch
Ohio Resource Network www.ebasedprevention.org or 1-800-788-7254
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All School Staff need Quick Guides which include Common Drills and Crisis Team
Procedures
Incident Command
SystemActivation
Evacuation Lockdown Shelter-in-Place
CBRNE shelter-in-
place
Hit the Deck Drop, Cover and Hold
Relocating Students
Releasing Students
School Safety Team
First Aid Team
Counseling Team
* Stay calm; your attitude/actions
will be mirro
red by student
* Take class roster when evacuating
the classroom/ building* Remember
structural damage may block usual
evacuation routes
* C
are for emotionally, medically
fragile `students
* I
f bomb threat, do not to
uch, move
or disturb unidentified packages. Do
not use walkie-talkies or cell phones as
they
have the potential to detonate
bomb(s)
Incident Command
System
Evacuation
Lockdown
School Crisis Management Guide: For Timely Response
to School Emergencies
One guide per adult in your school district Free while
quantities last at our clearinghouse by calling 1-800-
788-7254 opt #1
U.S. DOE Practical Information on Crisis PlanningWrite to: ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, V.S. Dept. of Ed. P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398 Phone # 1-800-USA-LEARN• Order on line: www.ed.gov/about/ordering.jspTTY# 1-800-437-0833