Both the Hollister School District and the San Benito High
School District are in the very early stages of exploring the
possibility of installing video surveillance cameras on their
campuses.
Both the Hollister School District and the San Benito High School District are in the very early stages of exploring the possibility of installing video surveillance cameras on their campuses.
We think the idea has real merit. There’s a lot of evidence that school surveillance cameras can help improve safety and security for students and teachers and that they can also reduce vandalism and theft.
Civil libertarians will argue that the cameras themselves would create a whole set of Big Brother-like problems. Such concerns will have to be addressed, but any final decision about whether cameras should or shouldn’t be placed at our schools must be based on the scope and scale of the existing threats or problems, how effectively surveillance cameras would actually address those problems and a cost-benefit analysis.
Many school administrators say surveillance systems help create peace of mind for parents, students and teachers in an era of highly publicized violence at schools. While the cameras are only a passive form of security, they say they help prevent violence because a potential perpetrator would know that the cameras increase the likelihood of being identified and apprehended. Further, cameras that are constantly monitored can be a good tool for spotting suspicious behavior on a school campus before a problem occurs.
The same preventative argument can be made – perhaps even more effectively – with regards to property crime on school campuses. Far too often vandals know their havoc won’t be noticed until long after they’re gone. The knowledge that their acts would be captured by a camera and that there’s a high likelihood of being identified would be a powerful deterrent. And when a theft or vandalism does occur, the camera would provide evidence that could be used for prosecution.
Many schools using surveillance cameras report improved student behavior. Again, knowing that their acts are being recorded can keep kids from causing trouble at school.
If our schools do decide to pursue purchase of surveillance systems, it’s imperative that costs – not only for the original purchase, but also for operation and maintenance – be weighed against benefits and compared with other alternative solutions. These systems are not inexpensive and they must be used and maintained properly to be of value.
