school and teach them the value of conflict resolution skills. Therefore, conflict resolution strategies can be used for both prevention and intervention. Schools should strongly consider the establishment of crisis centers for students who commit violent acts or threaten violence. Teachers and administrators can refer students to the centers, which should be staffed by professionals who are specially trained to work with violent students. Crisis centers should be somewhere where students can be sent to “cool-off” and to receive on the spot counseling. They should not be a replacement for after school detention.Another strategy being used by an increasing number of schools is extending the number of hours that the school is open to students. In some communities, after the regular school day has ended, schools are kept open so that students can participate in organized activities such as sports, gymnastics, crafts, art, music, tutorial programs, or other activities. Other schools, especially elementary schools, provide space for childcare programs to accommodate working parents who are unable to pick up their children at the end of the school day and do not want them home alone.Many school leaders are beginning to hire people dedicated to security duties. School Resource Officer (SRO) programs are becoming increasingly popular across the country. SROs are usually city or countly law enforcement officers assigned by their departments to work in the schools within their jurisdiction. The advantage of such a program is having sworn officers with full police authority and street experience available not only to enforce the law on campus but also to provide classroom education and student counseling. The SRO program provides high-quality service that is cost-effective for schools and police departments alike. It can also enhance school crime reporting procedures and the sharing of information on school and community ju...
