"... The most effective approach might not feel like security at all, Densley said. He suggests schools hire more counselors, reduce class sizes and otherwise work to connect to students who may be emotionally troubled. “Those things don’t feel like school safety but actually they are,” he said. “It’s a hard sell..." The following article … [Read more...]
Training, ubiquitous in era of school shootings, appears to have saved lives in Oxford
Locks, Lights, and Out of Sight: How Lockdown Drills Affect America’s Children
"As schools re-open across the country, there’s one thing that has not gone away: lockdown drills." The Violence Project Co-Founder Jillian Peterson spoke to reporters for this CNN three-part article about how lockdown drills affect children. She spoke about The Violence Project's research into school shootings and her personal connection to … [Read more...]
School Safety: The Violence Project Speaks
Since the Columbine High School massacre in April 1999, education and public safety policy has emphasized situational crime prevention and law enforcement response in an effort to prevent shooting casualties. School security is now a multi-billion dollar industry. Yet, many of the alleged solutions to school shootings are expensive, dangerous, … [Read more...]
Gun Violence in America: The Psychology of Mass Shooters
The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson joined Dr. Celine Gounder to discuss the psychology of mass shooters and findings from The Violence Project's mass shooter database. Listen to the Podcast Transcript available here. Source: In Sickness and In Health Podcast - Season 3, Episode 25 Length: 40 minutes … [Read more...]
Active shooter drills have become common in Pittsburgh-area schools but mental health effects remain unknown
Ellie Miller knows to arm herself if her school is under attack. She is 8. In fall 2018, Miller’s third-grade class learned what to do in case an active shooter invaded her school. She says her teacher instructed her to pick up a nearby object. This object, whatever it may be, would be Miller’s last defense against an active shooter. If he entered … [Read more...]