HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 28_04/14/2005 Memorandum
TU: Michaef Couzzo, Jr., Vliage Manager
FRQM: S#ephen J. Ailison, Ghief of Potice ,�-
Subject: Agenda Item — School Program
Date: April 7, 2Q05
t rr�et with the Training Director from the Patm Beach Sct�ool Q'rstr�# Potice
Department referenoe our partieipation in presenting the S�op Builying Now
program in one of the local etementary schoo�s. I am now abte to provide
� detailed infarmafion and our ob[igations far participation in this prosram.
After speaking wi#h this represenfative and re�iewirag the course maferial, #
believe fhaf this is an exceflent opportunity #o have a positive impact on the
chitdren of our commun'�ty at qne of the most impressionabte times in their lives.
Attached is a fact sheet discussing invotvement of law enforcemen# officers in
this program.
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� Involvement of Law Enforcement
,��a�r�NV � ►�NP�N�Na Officers in Bullying Prevenfiion
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With so{id relationships forged through the schoo! • Chiidren and youth who bully are also more likely to
resource o�ter (SRO) and Drug Abuse Resistance report that they own guns for risky reasons, such as
Education (D.A.R.E.) programs,.law enforcement to gain respect ar frighten others (Cunningham etal.).
officers are in a unique position to help identify and
eliminate bullying behavior in schools — behavior • In one study, boys who were identified as bullies in
that is seriously interfering with students' abifity to middle schooi were four times as likeiy as their
receive a sound education. non-bu(lying peers to have 3 or more criminal
convictions by age 24 (Olweus,1993).
What is Builying?
Butlying among children is aggressive behavior that How Can Law Enforcement Offiters
is intentiona( and that invofves an imbalance of power Contribute to a Successful Bullying
or strength.Typically, it is repeated over time. Builying Prevention Pragram in School?
can take many forms such as hitting, punching (physicat Changing bullying behavior in the schools requires a
buflying); teasing or name-calling (verbal buliying); coordinated approach. Law enforcement officers can
in#imidation through gestures or social exclusion help stop the spread of fear and violence in our
(nonverbal bullying or emotional bullying); and sending schools by assisting in the implementation of a
insufting messages by e-mail (cyber bullying). comprehensive 6ullying prevention program.
Why Law Enfortement Offiters Should Help 1. Enlist the support of school administrators.
Stop Bullying A plan to implement a bullying prevention initiative
• Law enf�rcement afficers, like other adults, can be successful only with the support of the
should be concerned about the effects of bullying highest authority in the school. Unfortunately, many
on chitdren. Research indicates that bullying can school adminisfirators don't believe there is a bullying
cause health, psychological, and educational problem in their school.
problems for children who are bullied. Children and • To convince them of the seriousness of bullying,
youth who are bullied are more likely than other share with them research findings about the
children to be depressed, lonely, anxious; have low nature, prevalence, and effects of bullying.
self-esteem, be absent from school, feel unwell, and .
think about suicide. • Consider collecting your own data about bullying
at the schoat to share with your administrator and
• Law enforcement officers also should try to prevent felfow staff members. You may want to administer
bultying because research shows that bullying an anonymous student questionnaire (grades 3 and
others can be a sign of other serious antisocial higher). A number of bullying prevention programs
and/or violent behavior. Children and youth who include such questionnaires.
frequently bully their peers are more likely than
others to: • Consider coUecting and mapping incidents of
• Get intQ frequent fights reported bullying at your school. Free computer
• Be injured in a fight programs are available that may help (e.g.,
• Var�dal�ze property www.schooicopsoftware.com) you to analyze and
• Steal property map incidents that occur in and around your schools.
• Drink alcohol
• Smoke 2. Sefect and implemeni a research-based bullying �
• Be truant from school prevention program.
• Drop out of school Research existing bullying prevention programs that your
• Carry a weapon school might adopt. Visit
www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov
> for'information about such programs and tips about behind blinds of a window that overlooks the
what to look for in selecting effective programs, playground or a stage curtain that overiooks the
lunchroom. Use information gathered from
Work with your administrator and other staff to anonymous reports to strategize where and when �
carefuliy select a program that best fits �he needs of you should increase supervision. _
your school, with attention to the proven
effectiveness of the model. Work actively with your 6. Work with oiher sraff to creare a safety plan for
colleagues to implement the program with fidelity. children who are bullied. ;
Consider establishing a code phrase that could be �
3. Be accessible to studenis and stqff. used by the child to alert a teacher or other adult to
Get to know students by name and work to develop bul(ying behavior without drawing undue attention
trusting relationships with them. Encourage them to the child who was bullied.
to come to you with concerns about buflying or .
other issues. 7. Suggest the institution of behavior coniracrs as a type
of creaiive probation.
4. Create an anonymous reporting system in your school. If a bullying behavior constitutes a crime, visit with �
Many students are bystanders to bullying, and many do your prosecuting attorney to see if you can develop
not take action against bulfying that they see or know an intervention pian for the child who bullied.
about. Creating a system that promotes anonymaus Consider the statute of limitations for misdemeanor
reporting of bullying incidents gives passive bystanders crime in your state and propose that you be given
an opportunity to be active bystanders. Consider some discretion in houv these chAdren are charged
providing a locked box for anonymous reports of when bullying incidents violate the law. Ask the
bullying. Locate the bax in an area of the school that is prosecutor to help you devetop a behavior tontrac#
private but easily accessibie. Investigate the reports and offer to monitor this chiid's behavior for the next
thoroughly and sensitively'.Alerting responsible adults few months at school. if successful, the child who
about bul(ying incidents and increasing supervision can bullies can escape prosecution (much like a
significantly reduce their frequency. diversion), and the courYs case log can be reduced. If
not successfut, the child who bullies would fact this
S. Institufe passive surveiJlance. charge in addition to any other charges as a result of
In other words, be watchful.Observe from continued bullying behaviar:
References
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Graig, W. M. (1998).The relationship among bullying, victimization, depression, anxiety, and aggression in elementary school children. Personolity
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Eron, L. D., Huesmann, L. R., Dubow, E., Romanoff, R, Yarmel, P. (1987). Aggression and its correlates over 22 Years. Childhood aggression and
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' well-being.JoumalofSo�ial Psychology,133, 33-42. �
U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement (2002): Are America's schools safe? Students speak out "
1999schoolcrimesupplement Washington,DC.
���D��Q� �` These and other materials are available online at: www.StopBultyingNow.hrsa.gov