Integrity of Safe Schools Data Schools and Law

Integrity of Safe Schools Data Schools and Law Enforcement Continuing A Cooperative and Collaborative Safe Schools (PIMS)Reporting Process

Integrity (a definition) 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness: 2. The state of being whole and undivided § terms: soundness, unified, coherence, togetherness § the condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction: § internal consistency or lack of corruption in electronic data: § Quality in - Quality out

Mandate Requirements • No Later than thirty (30) days prior to the deadline for submitting the report to the Office (July 31 st ), the chief school administrator shall submit the report to the police department with jurisdiction. • The police department shall review the report. • No later than fifteen (15) days prior to the deadline the police department must notify in writing whether the report accurately reflects police incident data or; • If not accurate the police department shall indicate the discrepancies between the report and police incident data. • The chief school administrator and department shall attempt to resolve the discrepancies.

Challenges (Part 1) • Law Enforcement most likely not totally familiar with the PIMS Reporting Specifics – What is an incident. – Specific entry requirements. – Understanding the Final Report. • Police Departments search the school address through their records management system for incidents. This starts their verification process. This produces a broad scope of incidents to match with school incidents. • Was the incident a crime or not. If so what crime. • Where did the incident actually take place? • Was there an arrest? How many arrests for each incident?

Challenges (Part 2) • Keeping each other informed of crimes/incidents – Parents reporting crimes directly to the police – Police locating criminal activity on school property – Schools notifying law enforcement of incident • Timely, accurate and complete incident entry at the school building level • Timely submission of the PIMS report to the police • Timely return of the PIMS report to the school by police • Working through discrepancies – time consuming

Don’t Lose Sight of the Basics ! (During the Reporting Process) • The components of a PIMS incident. • Does the details of the incident meet the criteria? • PIMS Reportable Infraction Codes • Is it a PIMS Reportable Incident, if yes identify the proper code • Understand the definitions of reportable crimes and infractions. • Use the definitions provided to clarify the specific crime or infraction

Best Practices (Part 1) • Cooperation, Collaboration and Communication – Communication Process – Share the appropriate parts of the PIMS manual (Volume 2) • Don’t lose sight of the goal of the reporting and verification process – Accuracy – Verifiable (complete) – Timely submission • Identify and work with the same law enforcement officer(s) during the process. • Identify the team. Work with a consistent building and district level data collection and incident reporting team.

Best Practices (Part 2) • Verify the incidents with law enforcement during the course of the school year. • Work through the “gray areas” incidents to get an agreement during the course of the school year. • Don’t wait until the last minute to submit the report to the police. Stay within the 30 days. • Complete a annual team review of the process. – evaluate the effectiveness of the process – identify any changes needed to improve the process.

Scenarios

Scenario 1 • Two students while in the cafeteria engage in a fight. Two teachers intervene to break up the fight. Another student not involved in the fight throws a full water bottle striking one of the intervening teachers in the face causing a contusion to the teacher’s eye. • How is this handled for PIMS considerations?

Scenario 2 • A third grade teacher has reasonable belief that one of her students is a victim of child abuse. The teacher contacts the Child. Line as a mandated reported. There is a concern for the child’s safety if he goes home. The police are notified. • How is this handled for PIMS considerations

Scenario 3 • A student is in her third period class, at the high school, she is noticeably under the influence of what appears be a controlled substance. There is no odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She had no drugs on her person. • An ambulance is summoned for that student. She stated that another student on her school bus gave her some pills and she immediate swallowed them. • A investigation of the bus video confirmed the statement and identified the student that gave her the drugs • How is this handled for PIMS considerations?

Scenario 4 • On two separate occasions, weeks apart, two different students, at the middle school reported their cell phones stolen. The school conducted an investigation but could not verify that they were stolen because no offenders were found. • How is this handled for PIMS considerations?

Scenario 5 • A vehicle at 2: 00 a. m. is being driven on the street in front of your elementary school. The vehicle jumps the curb striking and damaging the corner of your school building. • The police arrive and arrest the driver for driving under the influence of alcohol. • How is this handled for PIMS considerations?

Questions

Contact Information Steve Beck Montgomery County Department of Public Safety School Safety Coordinator Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus 1175 Conshohocken Road Conshohocken, Pa. 19428 610 -278 -3500 Ext. 6629 484 -250 -2563 sbeck@montcopa. org sbeck@mciu. org