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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Score: +4
(4/2/0)
Orange County Grand Jury
• 2022-2023
School Shootings:
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 12 findings
F1
Law enforcement, first responders, and other stakeholders have demonstrated a strong interest in working cooperatively with Orange County public schools to mitigate the risk of an active shooter incident; establishment of MOUs between law enforcement and school districts would strengthen this cooperation.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Each Orange County school district should arrange for local law enforcement to do an annual safety inspection of each school. The written safety checklist should include an audit of the integrity of site boundaries and a review of safety plans and policies. This annual safety audit should commence with the 2023-24 school year by October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F1, F10, F11)
R2
All Orange County school districts should establish a threat identification and assessment system for all school sites to monitor social media, screen for messages of concern, and manage information received in coordination with local law enforcement using MOUs, if necessary, by July 1, 2024. (F1, F3)
F2
All Orange County public schools studied by the Grand Jury stated that they conducted or have scheduled drills within the current school year on emergency procedures addressing intruders on campus, but not all have done so specifically regarding armed assailants.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Each Orange County school district, in conjunction with law enforcement, should develop and implement tabletop exercises to be conducted in district schools by December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F2)
R4
Each Orange County school district should work with local law enforcement to plan and conduct a district-wide active shooter drill by July 1, 2024, and at least every other year thereafter. (F2)
F3
While all districts prioritize the safety of students and staff, the attention and resources devoted to active shooter preparedness and response vary from district to district.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
All Orange County school districts should establish a threat identification and assessment system for all school sites to monitor social media, screen for messages of concern, and manage information received in coordination with local law enforcement using MOUs, if necessary, by July 1, 2024. (F1, F3)
R5
All Orange County school districts should develop a casualty care training program for each school in their district, to be in place by the end of the first semester of the 2023-24 school year and provided annually thereafter. (F3)
F4
Safety and security plans for on-campus before and after-school programs are not adequately addressed by school districts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Safety and security plans for on-campus before and after-school programs need to be addressed more thoroughly by school districts, by July 1, 2024. (F4)
F5
While many Orange County public schools have installed fences, cameras, and other methods to address the issue of active shooters on a campus, there are still opportunities for improvement.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7
Each Orange County school district should obtain and incorporate perimeter camera systems in all district schools by July 1, 2024, or earlier if financially able to do so, and investigate the potential use of cameras that incorporate Artificial Intelligence to enhance threat detection and prevention. (F5, F10)
R8
All Orange County school districts should review entry procedures on all campuses with an eye toward the use of perimeter fencing, the use of single point entry, and the use of a buzzer and camera system for entry into the main/administrative offices. (F5, F12)
F6
Not all schools utilize a system for monitoring campus visitors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Each Orange County school district should Identify and implement a parent and visitor management system for each school site within the school district. This is to include identified access points, badges, or a similar identification procedure (F6, F11, F12)
F7
While there is an increased awareness of the benefits of mental health counseling, not all school districts have implemented these programs in all schools.
Related Recommendations (2)
R10
Each Orange County school district should implement training for all staff to identify threat-related behaviors and provide a procedure for reporting the behavior by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. (F7)
R11
All Orange County school districts should develop a plan to implement or enhance mental health counseling for all schools by December 31, 2024. (F7)
F8
School Resource Officers (SROs) are a valuable asset for school safety, yet many cities/districts do not allocate sufficient funds to hire needed officers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Each Orange County School District should assess the need for SROs or additional SROs, reaching out to appropriate community partners to facilitate funding by July 1, 2024. (F8)
F9
Not all classrooms have window shades, tinted glass, or film to obstruct the interior view from the outside.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
All Orange County school districts should investigate and consider bullet resistant or tinted film covering for school windows by December 31, 2023. (F9)
F10
The camera surveillance systems utilized on many campuses require repairs, replacement, or additions.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Each Orange County school district should arrange for local law enforcement to do an annual safety inspection of each school. The written safety checklist should include an audit of the integrity of site boundaries and a review of safety plans and policies. This annual safety audit should commence with the 2023-24 school year by October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F1, F10, F11)
R7
Each Orange County school district should obtain and incorporate perimeter camera systems in all district schools by July 1, 2024, or earlier if financially able to do so, and investigate the potential use of cameras that incorporate Artificial Intelligence to enhance threat detection and prevention. (F5, F10)
F11
Many schools do not have perimeter fencing completely enclosing their campus.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Each Orange County school district should arrange for local law enforcement to do an annual safety inspection of each school. The written safety checklist should include an audit of the integrity of site boundaries and a review of safety plans and policies. This annual safety audit should commence with the 2023-24 school year by October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. (F1, F10, F11)
R9
Each Orange County school district should Identify and implement a parent and visitor management system for each school site within the school district. This is to include identified access points, badges, or a similar identification procedure (F6, F11, F12)
F12
A number of school districts have school site administrative offices that remain unlocked on a daily basis.
Related Recommendations (2)
R8
All Orange County school districts should review entry procedures on all campuses with an eye toward the use of perimeter fencing, the use of single point entry, and the use of a buzzer and camera system for entry into the main/administrative offices. (F5, F12)
R9
Each Orange County school district should Identify and implement a parent and visitor management system for each school site within the school district. This is to include identified access points, badges, or a similar identification procedure (F6, F11, F12)
Conclusions 4
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CL1Students feel safe to talk to each other and to staff
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CL2There is a mutual trust and respect among students and school staff
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CL3There is on-going dialogue and relationships with family and community members that interact with the school
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CL4There is adequate support, training, and resources for school staff The Grand Jury strongly recommends that all Orange County public school districts work to provide mental health services to all schools in each district as an effective tool in helping to prevent potential active shooter incidents. “A cohesive and supportive school environment is key to preventing school shootings.” (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia-CVP)
Agency Responses 29
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Orange County District Attorney
Elected County Office