Georgia County Uses Kid-Friendly Technology To Root Out Crime in Schools

Officials in Forsyth County, GA, have turned to kid-friendly technology to encourage students to provide anonymous tips on real or potential crimes at school.

By Courtney Beal Spriggs, Guest Contributor

Deputy Courtney Beal Spriggs is community outreach specialist with the Crime Prevention Unit, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County, GA.

Drug-related crime and gang activity are festering in schools in many parts of the country, and Forsyth County, GA, a suburb of Atlanta with a population of 165,000, is no exception. That challenged the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the Forsyth County School Safety Department to not just find a way to make the county’s public schools safer, but to do so in a way that would earn the support of the 32,426 students at the county’s 30 public schools. Interceding early in potential or actual crimes was considered a priority.

The Sheriff’s Office and the School Safety Department have always worked together on a daily basis, making collaboration easy. An increase in school drug crime and alleged gang activity in late 2008 forced Sheriff’s Office deputies and school safety officials to join forces to reach students.

Lieutenant Jody Chapman, one of the commanders of the county’s School Resource Officer Unit, researched ways for children to report criminal activity without being considered “tattletales” by other students or damaging the trust that officers had built with the students. “No matter how many officers we have in schools, students will always know more about ‘what is going on,’” says Chapman. “Our goal was to convince students that it is safe and smart to share that information with someone who can prevent others from getting hurt.” Anonymity was vital in preventing bullying or peer pressure.

Another consideration was the medium for reaching the most students. Beginning with the most obvious, an anonymous telephone tip line was installed specifically for students. Because computers and the Internet are foremost in communication among preteens and teens, a way to anonymously submit tips via the Internet was also established. The final piece was added when the newest, most popular form of communication among youth was added: text messaging. Students would be able to send text messages with information and remain completely anonymous. The sender’s information would be scrambled, but officials would be able to communicate with them. Both Web tips and texts would be received by Sheriff’s Office personnel and school safety officials 24 hours a day, seven days a week via cell phones.

On February 12, 2009, the new program, Campus Crime Stoppers, went live and was greeted enthusiastically by students, teachers, and administrators alike.

Campus Crime Stoppers was publicized in all of Forsyth County’s middle and high schools via posters, pocket cards, and refrigerator magnets. Press releases were distributed to the local newspaper and all of Forsyth County’s Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch participants. Bruce Wagar, Forsyth County’s Director of School Safety, said, “There is no excuse now for anyone in the county not being able to give an anonymous tip about safety in our community, and make everybody in Forsyth County accountable for safe schools and a safe community.”

As the media constantly remind people, crime and other tragic events plague schools nationwide. While this program’s technology certainly does not replace calling 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, it will greatly assist law enforcement in dealing with nonurgent illegal activity as well as empower students to help keep their environment safe.  Children are confronted with various dangers including bullying, drugs, underage drinking, dating violence, and Internet predators. Forsyth County’s goal in implementing Campus Crime Stoppers is achieving 100 percent safe schools through cooperation with school officials, students, parents, and the community.