To mitigate the risk of knife-related violence on school campuses, administrators can implement a multi-faceted strategy that includes clear weapons policies, electronic supervision systems, anonymous tip lines, de-escalation and behavioral detection training, and comprehensive threat assessment management teams.
Related Article: 6 Ways to Prevent and Prepare for Edged Weapon Violence on Campus
The strategies include:
1. Policies
Develop and effectively communicate clear policies defining what types of knives, cutting instruments and other edged weapons are prohibited on campus.
2. Electronic Hall Passes
For K12 schools, utilizing a written student supervision plan and documenting which personnel handle each assignment, is a powerful violence prevention and liability reduction approach. Electronic hall pass systems can be one of the most powerful tools to improve student supervision to help prevent a wide range of inappropriate student behaviors including cutting classes, gang activity, vaping and the altercations, which can and have all contributed to violence with weapons.
3. Student Tip Systems
Anonymous reporting systems and hotlines enable students, teachers, administrators, school employees, and members of the public to confidentially report a school or community threat via a phone call, text, app, or online.
4. Training and Communications
Law-related education, awareness videos, posters and signage as part of a thoughtfully developed communications.
5. Self-Harm/Suicide Prevention
These measures are extremely important in preventing planned as well as unplanned attacks with edged weapons.
6. De-Escalation Training
Evidence-based verbal de-escalation training for personnel reduces fights and other instances of physical violence.
Related Article: 10 Reasons Why Teachers Need De-escalation Training
7. Threat Assessment and Management
Having a properly implemented student threat assessment and management team is one of the most effective ways to prevent weapons violence including but not limited to mass casualty attacks.
8. Pre-Attack Indicators Training
Training in behavioral detection techniques such as Gavin DeBecker’s pre-attack indicators or “PINS,” pattern matching and recognition, detection of pre-attack surveillance and visual weapons screening have all been credited with the prevention of many otherwise imminent attacks. Unlike many physical security measures that only provide protection for specific types of situations at specific locations, behavioral prevention and detection measures provide a reasonable level of protection for the entire campus community regardless of the type of weapon(s) attackers plan to utilize, the location and the timing of an attack.
Michael Dorn is the author of 28 books in his field, and his campus safety work has taken him to 11 countries. Michael welcomes reader questions and comments at www.safehavensinternational.org.
Note: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.
