Districts Implementation of Active Shooter Drill Policies

High-profile school shootings provoke public outcry and calls for policy responses to gun violence in schools. However, policy makers face pressure from diverse stakeholders with distinct agendas, and in some areas, there is little empirical research to guide policy makers’ decisions. Active shooter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Criminal justice policy review 2022-08, Vol.33 (7), p.667-687
Main Authors: Howard, Cassandra C., Kelchner, Viki P., Hilaire, Breahannah, Campbell, Laurie O., Laguardia, Eric D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Gun violence
Legislation
Policy making
Public schools
Research methodology
School districts
School violence
Specialists
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Summary:High-profile school shootings provoke public outcry and calls for policy responses to gun violence in schools. However, policy makers face pressure from diverse stakeholders with distinct agendas, and in some areas, there is little empirical research to guide policy makers’ decisions. Active shooter drills are one such example of a hotly debated policy response in need of further study. As a preliminary step to filling this research gap, this mixed-methods study investigated how school districts in Florida have implemented active shooter drills following legislation passed after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. We analyzed school safety specialists’ perceptions and reports of drill procedures and their alignment with best practices. The majority of the districts surveyed aligned with Best Practices established by the National Association of School Psychologists and National Association of School Resource Officers. Implications for future research and considerations for the implementation of active shooter drills are discussed.
ISSN:0887-4034
1552-3586
DOI:10.1177/08874034211068448