When you ask a child about his or her knowledge of police officers and their duties, chances are you will get a response along the lines of “they put bad people in jail” or “they write tickets.” These replies are based on what children hear from society as to who the police are and what they do. However, if you talk to a student about who a school resource officer is, you might be surprised at how uplifting their replies are. Students look up to their SRO as a role model, friend, and peacekeeper. This is a refreshing view of law enforcement and those behind the badge keeping everyone safe.
What students may not know, however, is that the safety responsibilities of an SRO go far beyond the badge and gun, and far beyond walking the school perimeter and hallways. Most are unaware of the knowledge, training, and daily observation an SRO undertakes on the principles of CPTED (pronounced sep-ted) to help keep students and all building occupants safe. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach of crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments. CPTED strategies are put in place by design to provide a variety of security functions, such as reducing victimization and deterring offenders from committing an offense. Natural surveillance is one of the four prime areas of focus of CPTED.
One of the first impressions of a school’s exterior is the landscaping. Not only should landscaping be aesthetically pleasing, but it should enhance security and help prevent criminal activity. As one of the primary principles of CPTED, natural surveillance aims to increase visibility through landscaping design and keep any activity in the area under observation. Increased visibility keeps students, faculty, and staff safer by reducing potential places for criminals to hide or escape detection. Here are a few ways a school resource officer can utilize his or her natural instincts in coordination with natural surveillance to protect schools and those inside them.
Natural surveillance is only one of the ways that SROs, faculty, and staff members can utilize CPTED practices to improve safety and security in the school. There are many practices that can be undertaken at little to no cost to the school district. Landscaping improvements such as the removal of large objects from the grounds (thus preventing property damage to the building exterior), hedge trimming, and raking or clearing of designated sidewalks are a few ways to exert minimal effort and expenses for maximum results towards improvement.
Territorial reinforcement, which uses physical attributes to create a strong sense of ownership and community, is another alternative CPTED practice. Using fencing, signage, and pavement treatments, these practices work hand in hand with landscaping and other methods of natural surveillance to deter deviant behavior on the property. Bollards and high curbs are an example of territorial reinforcement as they help ensure that the building perimeter is inaccessible by vehicles. These features also assist an SRO who directs traffic before or after school in ensuring the safety of children entering or leaving school grounds.
Natural access control is another practice that can be easily implemented. Natural access control limits access by decreasing the number of entrances. This principle not only helps keep intruders out but directs the flow of people in a more organized manner. A school should have one main entrance with clear, concise signage and sidewalk access directing foot traffic only to that entrance. This reduces the area an SRO needs to oversee during peak volume times, such as the start of the school day or during an assembly. During these times of increased foot traffic, it could be easier for an individual who doesn’t belong in the school to enter if there are alternative ways to get inside, especially when an administrator or SRO is busy focusing on other areas.
Maintenance is a principle of CPTED that closely relates to “The Broken Windows Theory.” Poorly maintained properties are at a higher risk of attracting criminal activity. School buildings with large exterior walls can sometimes fall victim to graffiti and other forms of vandalism. Ensuring that graffiti tags are removed within a 24-hour period promotes intolerance to such acts and prevents other individuals from thinking that behavior in the area is either acceptable or ignored by authorities.
Whether or not you are an SRO, a teacher, or a parent trying to make sure your child stays safe, the most important beginning to any act of crime prevention is education. Be engaged and build trust with the child so they are comfortable sharing information about threats and other suspicious behaviors. It should be clear to students what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t, and students should know that a person of authority can be trusted with information.
While environmental design cannot stop every safety issue from happening, it is a practice that reduces the likelihood that certain issues will occur. Any SRO will tell you that a good day at their job is when only learning happens in school. It takes a village, and it takes effort. But with small acts of prevention over extended periods of time, each CPTED principle applied is a step towards creating a safe learning environment. Everyone can play a part in making sure each child is safe in school, every day.