When reporters interviewed former classmates of the 18-year-old boy who killed 21 students and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, last summer, they found that he had been known to make violent remarks about women, told fellow students that he was considering suicide, and was bullied at school.
Similar stories emerged after Parkland; Sandy Hook; Highland Park; and so many others.
As mass violence in American life continues to persist, it has become crucial to understand the warning signs. Communities are responding by empowering themselves to identify and help distressed individuals before they commit violence. Anonymous reporting tip lines are one key part of this nationwide trend.
In this three-part series from Kokomo24/7®, we discuss what a tip line is, what types of schools use tip lines, and why it is necessary to implement a tip line proactively.
What is an anonymous tip line?
Anonymous reporting tip lines are systems which enable students, staff, and community members to discretely report concerning or harmful behavior to school administrators.
Every year, more American schools implement an anonymous reporting tip line. Federal data shows that the number of schools with an anonymous threat-reporting system has more than doubled in the last 15 years. In 2008, just 31% of public schools had an anonymous tip line; in the most recent survey, 66% of public schools reported having one.
Anonymous reporting systems are effective because they make students more likely to speak up. A study by researchers at the University of Michigan showed that students attending schools with tip lines were more likely to report threatening behavior. The research also linked the presence of a tip line to lower violence levels in school.
Poor implementation can reduce a tip line’s effectiveness. The Department of Education notes that some schools simply use telephone hotlines or a physical collection box for handwritten tips.
The most effective method of collecting anonymous reports is a mobile- or web-based system. Because tip lines rely on community trust and engagement, it is necessary to provide anonymity and tech-based options which students are comfortable with.
It is crucial to provide ways to report warning signs. In 9 out of 10 violent school incidents, the assailant had displayed objectively concerning or prohibited behaviors that were observed by others. Providing students with a quick and simple way to share vital information makes doing so more straightforward.
It’s well-established that individuals who commit violence show warning signs before they do so. When students display suicidal ideation or openly threaten their classmates, as the Uvalde assailant did, communities need an easily accessible way to alert the proper authorities. Vulnerable, distressed young people need help before they harm themselves or others.
Creating and maintaining an effective anonymous reporting system is not simple, let alone doing so proactively. But the need is clear. Anonymous tip lines are a violence prevention tool which leaders can implement to help better ensure the health and safety of their schools and communities.
Kokomo24/7® Can Help
Kokomo24/7® understands that every school has its own set of unique needs. We can provide your school with a robust yet easy-to-use technology platform that simplifies the complicated work of higher education management. Get the health and safety platform you need to navigate complex and changing circumstances: the same software toolkit used by educational institutions like the second-largest K-12 school district in the country.
Ever since Kokomo24/7® was founded in 2018, we have been a leader in compliance and risk management solutions for all things health and safety. Kokomo proudly serves schools, communities, and workplaces. Our mission is to deliver highly effective, easy-to-use, and trusted compliance and risk management solutions that bridge the gap between public safety and technology.
Whether you work for a small school, a big-city public district, or any institution in between, we want to hear from you.
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