| Public schools have been equipped with video | | | | monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
| surveillance CCTV systems even before | | | | Said Principal JK Johnson of Orange High School in |
| Columbine. The reasons include increased safety | | | | Orange County, California who had 27 cameras |
| and security for students. Installing video | | | | installed, "If it cuts down the vandalism...I think it |
| surveillance cameras in schools is a costly project, | | | | would be a wise expenditure. It's another set of |
| and school districts must be sure that this is the | | | | eyes out there to help keep the school safe if |
| right route to deter theft, property damage, and | | | | something were to happen." |
| to prevent outsiders from entering the school's | | | | Other benefits include:o Provides school officials |
| property. Even though most school districts that | | | | with information and evidence that's not |
| have implemented video surveillance systems | | | | otherwise available.o The cameras deter crime |
| have faced privacy concerns from parents, | | | | and may lead some students to confess to |
| students and civil libertarian groups, school officials | | | | infractions that weren't even caught on the |
| assert that cameras curb crime and are important | | | | security cameras.o The cameras allow school |
| sources of physical evidence when crimes do | | | | security personnel to do more job-specific work, |
| occur. | | | | which saves money in the long run since the |
| Why should schools use video surveillance? | | | | mundane tasks will be performed by the security |
| Before secondary and middle school officials install | | | | system.o Money is also saved from insurance |
| video surveillance systems to prevent vandalism, | | | | premiums by the reduced burglaries and |
| gang activity, fights, trespassing or theft, they | | | | vandalism. |
| must sit down and conduct a thorough inventory | | | | However, costs remain and these must be faced |
| of their needs and security concerns. | | | | with each security system installation:o The initial |
| Important first questions to ask include:o What | | | | set-up costs, plus maintenance and personnel |
| security threats will the new cameras address?o | | | | costs may be too large for the school district.o |
| How will the surveillance equipment address those | | | | Privacy rights must be considered: no audio tracks |
| threats?o How will the system be maintained and | | | | should ever be recorded, and the cameras should |
| staffed? | | | | not be placed inside of the school buildings. Civil |
| After this step is completed, school officials must | | | | libertarian advocates must be assured that the |
| weigh the benefits and costs of their decision. | | | | system will fairly monitor students and not |
| Most school districts agree that installing video | | | | become intrusive. |
| surveillance equipment will help students focus on | | | | If the school districts do agree to purchase video |
| their studies and not make them worry about | | | | surveillance systems for their schools, they need |
| outside violence. The security systems run from | | | | to conduct adequate research and planning in |
| $500,000 per district for an analog system | | | | order to make the new system constructive and |
| consisting of CCTV (closed circuit television) | | | | beneficial for the students. And once the security |
| monitors to million-dollar IP-based systems with | | | | systems are installed, school officials should |
| digital surveillance cameras connected to a web | | | | evaluate their effectiveness at set times and |
| network. The system's cameras are generally | | | | adapt to future security challenges and students' |
| placed near entrances, hallways, stairwells, | | | | needs. |
| common areas and parking lots that are | | | | Copyright © 2005 Evaluseek Publishing. |