School Partnerships

There is a very interesting U.S. Department of Justice document that was put out by Rana Sampson (2002). It is titled “Bullying in Schools” and was put together for community law enforcement organizations. Within it, community policing is discussed, which is defined as organizational strategies that “reduce fear of crime and social disorder through problem-solving tactics and police-community partnerships” (Sampson, 2002).

Within the school environment, it is very important to make sure students and teachers do not feel unsafe, and it is important to keep order in school buildings. Like community law enforcement, creating partnerships can be an excellent way to increase safety and the perception of safety in a school. What types of partnerships might be helpful? Partnering with parents helps values and moral lessons taught at school be reinforced at home. Working with athletic coaches also can help consistent messages be given to students in and out of school. Mental health workers in the community could assist a school with identifying any fears that students or parents have with regard to the school environment. Local law enforcement could be partnered with in order to develop crisis intervention plans. Options for partnerships can be endless, and customized with regard to a school and community's needs. Clearly, collaboration and partnering are necessary to effectively keep school safe in our high-tech, globalized world.

Reference

Sampson, R. (2002). Bullying in schools. Community Oriented Policing Strategies, p. 3-66; taken from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/mime/open.pdf?Item=27 on July 20, 2007.