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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 9290 Implementation Procedures - Gangs, Gang Activity, and Similar Destructive or Delinquent Group Behavior

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. External Source – Person who provides information from outside of a school building.

  2. Internal Source – Person who provides information from within a school building.

II. Announcement/Dissemination of Information

  1. Written notices will be posted in every Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) school that contains information regarding gang activity and similar destructive or delinquent group behavior.

  2. Annually, the principal will notify students, parents, employees, and third parties of the general provisions of this policy. Notification may be:

    1. Given via announcement over the school public address system

    2. Published in newsletters, on the school/system websites, or in student/employee handbooks

    3. Posted on bulletin boards in offices and other commonly used areas.

III. Reporting Procedures

  1. From Internal Sources:

    1. Under the Safe Schools Act of 2010, all school employees will report any incidents of suspected gang activity or similar destructive or delinquent group behavior to the principal and/or to the school security officer.

    2. If a student, parent, guardian, or other person tells a school employee about any gang-related activity or similar destructive or delinquent group behavior, the school employee must report that information to the administrator/designee.

    3. If a student, employee, or third party reports that he/she is currently the target/victim or member of a gang, the staff member will respond quickly and report the incident to a school administrator/designee.

    4. The administrator/designee will complete the Gang-Related Incident Reporting Form.

    5. Upon receipt of a report, the administrator/designee and the school security officer will initiate an immediate investigation within 24 hours and determine whether the suspected gang activity actually occurred. A gang report of a high level of security will initiate immediate notification of appropriate school system personnel within 24 hours. They will take steps to verify who committed the act and whether others played a role in perpetrating this act. Other related complaints, if any, will be reviewed in making this determination.

    6. Administration will apply consequences and/or remedial actions consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, Policy 9200 Student Discipline, Policy 7030 Employee Conduct and Discipline, and the Procedures for the Threat Management Process.

    7. Administrators will notify parents of both the offender and/or victim of the allegation.

    8. The administrator/designee will create a record of the gang-related incident, which will include the Gang-Related Incident Investigation Form and any disciplinary actions taken, statements of the offender, the victim, and witnesses. Discussions with all parties will be documented.

    9. The school principal will be responsible for creating a repository for the gang-related activity information and the reporting forms.

    10. HCPSS will maintain a monitoring/tracking system to use as a database for evaluation purposes.

  2. From External Sources:

    1. The Coordinator of School Security is the HCPSS point of contact for information from law enforcement, State’s Attorney, or courts, who can then transmit the information to the principal as allowed by the Safe Schools Act of 2010.

    2. Information received about arrests, dispositions, and Child In Need of Assistance (CINA), or delinquency adjudication is confidential information. This information cannot be made a part of the student’s permanent record.

    3. The Office of School Security will:

      1. Maintain a central repository for the arrest/disposition information and information from courts

      2. Maintain a log by school year of each notification received from the courts, law enforcement, and the State’s Attorney’s Office

      3. Provide recommendations to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on ways to improve the notification process, if any, in order to better serve students

      4. Destroy arrest/disposition information and the information received from the courts when the student graduates, permanently leaves school, or turns twenty-two.

  3. Sharing Information with Persons Internal to the School:

    1. The Superintendent/Designee will inform all principals of the HCPSS plan for sharing and using information about gang-related activity, including ways school officials will share gang-related information with parents.

    2. In accordance with the Safe Schools Act of 2010, the Superintendent, principal, or school security officer will share information regarding arrests, dispositions, and reports about gang-related activity with school personnel in the school that a violating student(s) is enrolled. This information is provided to ensure the student(s) appropriate educational programming and to maintain a safe and secure environment for all students and school personnel.

  4. Sharing Information with Persons External to the School:

    1. To coordinate gang prevention, intervention, and suppression efforts, the principals and the Coordinators of School Security will meet at least twice a year. The purpose of these meetings is to share general non-student specific information and de-identified student data and to share gang-related activity that has been reported internally in the school.

    2. Whenever a report of on-going or threatened gang-related violence appears accurate and reliable, the principal/designee will contact the appropriate law enforcement officer. The principal/designee will share with the law enforcement officer information about the specific event and the students involved.

    3. The Superintendent/Designee may share the information on arrests, dispositions, and reports on gang-related activity as a confidential file with another Superintendent/Designee if the student transfers to another school system.

IV. Violations of Policy

  1. Student Violations

    If an individual believes that a student has violated this policy, the following procedures will be followed:

    1. The individual will refer the student to a school administrator

    2. The school administrator will promptly conduct an investigation of the alleged violation and take appropriate action to address the behavior as quickly as possible

    3. If the investigation reveals that a violation of policy has occurred, the administrator will notify the student’s parents/guardians and take specific action in accordance with:

      1. Student Code of Conduct

      2. Policy 9200 Student Discipline

      3. Procedures for the Threat Management Process

      4. Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2010

    4. A student who violates the policy is also subject to interventions designed by the school administrator to increase the student’s understanding of the impact of involvement in a gang or gang-related activity. The following interventions are required:

      1. Parent/student conference

      2. Behavioral contract

      The following interventions are recommended:

      1. Counseling with school counselor, school psychologist, or school safety/police resource staff

      2. Education about the effects of gang or gang-like activity

      3. Positive Behavioral Supports such as a functional behavioral assessment; behavioral intervention plan; remediation of problem behaviors that takes into account the nature of the offenses, the developmental level of the student, and the student’s behavioral history

      4. Referral to an external agency

      5. Participation in professional counseling (delivered by the school or a community mental health provider)

      6. Participation in a behavioral management program, such as mentoring or gang awareness prevention, developed in consultation with a mental health professional or a community-based resource which may include law enforcement and safety professionals

    5. The student may be referred to law enforcement and may be subject to criminal or other legal action

    6. The student may be issued a trespass notice.

  2. Employee and Third Party Violations

    If an individual believes that an employee or third party has violated this policy, it must be reported and investigated. The following procedures will be followed:

    1. The individual will refer the employee or third party to an appropriate supervisor or the Superintendent/Designee

    2. The supervisor and/or Superintendent/Designee will promptly conduct an investigation and address the behavior as quickly as possible

    3. If the investigation reveals that a violation has occurred, the supervisor or Superintendent/Designee will take appropriate action. Disciplinary action against an employee, if appropriate, will be taken in accordance with Policy 7030 Employee Conduct and Discipline. Action against a third party will be taken in accordance with relevant school system policies and other applicable state and federal laws.

V. Intervention

  1. Principals will provide professional development to school staff on how to respond appropriately to students who may be involved with gang activity.

  2. Principals/Designees or central office administrators will provide appropriate assistance to students or staff who have been affected by behavior prohibited in this policy.

  3. A student or staff member who shows the potential to become involved in gang activity may be required to participate in appropriate counseling/intervention to increase the student’s or staff member’s understanding of the potential consequences of being involved with gangs.

  4. When warranted, follow-up assistance will be provided to victims.

VI. Prevention Procedures

  1. The Office of School Security will coordinate professional development periodically to ensure that staff are aware of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of gang involvement and can use evidenced-based positive behavior supports in dealing with these situations.

  2. Administrators will collect, analyze, and use school-specific data regarding the number of incidents of gang or gang-related activities to guide school improvement efforts to ensure safe and nurturing environments and an “anti-gang culture.” Components of “anti-gang culture” include but are not limited to:

    1. Behavioral expectations

    2. A plan for teaching behavioral expectations

    3. An ongoing system for recognizing appropriate behaviors

    4. A process for responding to problem behaviors

    5. Collection and analysis of data to implement strategies for improving school climate.

  3. Gang prevention education will be included in the elementary and secondary curriculum as developmentally appropriate.

  4. Staff members will encourage students to be involved in activities which address creating a general culture of peer support and mutual respect.

  5. Principals will collaborate with families and the community to inform them of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of gangs on public health. This information can be communicated through newsletters, PTA presentations, parent information nights, and other school activities.

VII. History

ADOPTED: June 9, 2011

REVIEWED: July 1, 2017

MODIFIED:

REVISED: August 18, 2011, May 10, 2012

EFFECTIVE: May 10, 2012