3 Goals to Prevent & Stop Crime at School

We wish there were a magical solution to rid schools of crime. But the truth is, the reasons schools experience crime are complicated and multi-faceted, and for this reason, security solutions can’t be one-size-fits-all.

To create safer schools, we must implement behavioral, structural, and technological changes. We can’t rely solely on mental health awareness within school, for as we’ve seen in recent years, adults and outsiders commit many school shootings. But we can’t depend on security technology alone, either. We need to find ways to prevent behaviors that lead to violence in schools.

As PASS members (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools), we’re committed to helping make schools in and around Milwaukee, WI, safer. Here is our advice for local schools looking to create stronger, safer communities.

Goal 1: Improve Threat Identification

When someone commits a violent act, people often realize there were ignored warning signs. It’s important that your school’s staff and students understand common warning signs for school violence and shootings. The U.S. Department of Justice has documented early warning signs, including:

Withdrawing socially
Being bullied or a victim of violence themselves
Feeling persecuted
Displaying uncontrolled anger
Showing patterns of intimidation
Experience discipline problems and aggressive behavior
Showing intolerance for differences
Abusing drugs and alcohol
Affiliating with gangs
Accessing firearms at home

Immediate, high-risk signs include physical fighting, destroying property, expressing rage for minor reasons, threats of lethal violence, and possessing firearms and other weapons.

People are often hesitant to report someone of suspicious behavior, often out of fear of retaliation or falsely accusing someone. For this, we recommend your school implement an anonymous tip reporting tool. This could be done with simple slips of paper submitted to a tip box, or you can use digital solutions like SingleWire’s Visitor Aware Tip Line. It provides a unique link or QR code for students, parents, and staff to fill out an anonymous form reporting an incident or suspicious person.

Goal 2: Prevent Social Isolation in School

The first warning sign of school violence is social isolation, and while it can’t be eradicated overnight, it’s important to create a culture of belonging. When students are on the fringes of social circles, feelings of isolation can lead to depression, suicidal thoughts, and violence.

When possible, encourage students to get involved in clubs and activities. Some students may be unaware of what’s already offered at school, so make it clear to students what clubs are available and that they’re always open.

Shawmind, a UK charity for children’s mental health, also suggests offering solo activities for children and teenagers to do during recess or after school. Whether that’s participating in a garden or independent art time, it can help normalize the concept of spending time alone, making loneliness feel less painful.

We know that school systems often lack the resources and time to implement solutions like these, but even discussing isolation can be a step toward creating safer schools.

Goal 3: Prevent Easy Access to Your School

The American School Shooting Study (TASS) cites that according to case studies, “shootings often result when there is opportunity, as identified by easy access to school, gun, or both.”

Your school should prevent any opportunity for unauthorized people to enter your school. Doors should only be accessible to staff with keycards, pin codes, or mobile readers, and visitors should be vetted over a video intercom system before entering the building.

Facial recognition technology can help prevent suspicious people from entering school grounds. If someone is deemed a threat, you can flag the person’s identity in your access control system. If they’re later detected on facial recognition cameras, you’ll be immediately notified. Facial recognition technology has gotten much more sophisticated in recent years, with the ability to identify someone thirty or forty feet away from the camera.