School Shooting Prevention methods of the late 1990’s Part 2- Postincident Debriefing

As important as it is to be prepared if any incident should occur, it is just as important to be prepared for the aftermath of any incident whether it be school shootings or something else.  Fortunately, FBI special agents Stephen Band and Joseph Harpold have developed preplanned actions should these events occur.  It is vital that if violence should occur at a school, there should be a massive effort on the administrative personnel and police agencies within the community.  As stated in the previous post, these ideas still sound useful in this day and age. 

In the event that someone who plans to commit school violence and mentions what they plan on doing, the school should have a “Scholastic Crime Stoppers Program” along with a way someone can report this anonymously (Band and Harpold).  Witnesses, especially students, would be more willing to report information regarding those who are affiliated with school shootings if they were to remain anonymous.  No kid in school wants to be labeled as a rat or a snitch and become ostracized by their peers.  Agents Band and Harpold believe having school resource officers are also important because they can “provide positive information quickly, weed out rumors, and develop intelligence regarding potential or planned acts of violence” (“School Violence Lessons Learned”).  While I never had any acts of violence or shootings at the schools I attended, there was always a school resource officer in the building.  Knowing that developed a sense of safety and security since the officer was there to help keep the peace. 

Another method vital to keeping schools safe would be for local police agencies to provide information on factors that cause someone to commit school violence.  Seminars should not be just for school faculty but also parents.  Some of these factors include but are not limited to: those who have engaged in violent activity in the past, access to items that could inflict pain upon anyone, and/or little to no abilities to safely manage stress (Band and Harpold).  The previous shootings I have given in my previous blog match very well with the examples I have listed.  Adam Lanza not only had access to his mother’s firearms, but also didn’t know how to manage his stress.  These examples also fit with the Columbine shooters because they had personal issues as well as availability to weapons.  The NVCC Woodbridge shooter also did not have a way to manage his stress. 

A final proposal for postincident debriefings special agents Band and Harpold have would be a joint-operation of the local police, school administrators, faculty and parents to think of ways to prevent further incidents from happening again (“School Violence Lessons Learned”).  The agents suggest that there should be “programs that denounce violence and encourage respect for life and education, along with initiatives that increase individual and parental responsibility and accountability” (Band and Harpold).  Reaching out to kids to let them know that there are ways to solve their problems other than through violence.  It also can teach them peaceful ways to resolve conflicts when they grow up and mature.

Band, Stephen, and Joseph Harpold.  “School Violence Lessons Learned.”  FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.  Sep. 1999: 9-16.  Print.