ENsuring Safety In our Schools
No school administrator wants to think about the possibility of a threat to their facility. At John Cutter Investigations, we understand the sensitive nature of these conversations, and we care deeply about the safety of your students and staff. We understand that each school is different, so we work to understand the culture and climate at each particular school, and then work closely with administrators to create a security plan that balances an open learning environment with the security demands predicated by today’s world.
Our team is uniquely qualified to assess the security of educational facilities and protocols. Our Founder & President is former NYPD Deputy Chief John Cutter, who was responsible for all counter-terrorism initiatives for the department’s intelligence division during his successful tenure. Our investigations professionals come with vast experience from both the private and public investigations sectors, and have many different areas of expertise. Whatever the needs of your particular school, JCI can help you ensure a safer environment for your students and staff.
How Threat Assessments Work
In a typical threat assessment, vulnerability is defined as a combination of the attractiveness of a facility as a target and the level of deterrence and/or defense provided by the countermeasures. Target attractiveness is a measure of the asset or facility in the eyes of an aggressor and is influenced by the function and/or symbolic importance of the facility.
Read the Case Study:
How We Conducted a Real School Safety Assessment in New York
The level of deterrence and/or defense provided by the countermeasures can be determined by answering the following questions:
Is the placement of countermeasure providing a high level of deterrence or defense?
Is the countermeasure functioning properly?
Are proper procedures being used in the implementation of the countermeasure?
Does the countermeasure have inherent weaknesses that allow it to be easily defeated?
Does everyone responsible for implementing the countermeasure have adequate training?
An All-Hazards Approach
Emergencies are sudden and unexpected, so it is not enough to plan for the most likely hazards; we must consider even the most implausible situations when crafting a security plan. Utilizing the All-Hazards Approach enables John Cutter Investigations to develop an emergency response plan that encompasses a variety of hazards, including those deemed unlikely, so that your staff and students can feel confident in their safety. Throughout the process we consider all four phases of emergency planning: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
John Cutter Investigations Inc. evaluates the site against both natural hazards and man-made threats using the risk-assessment methodology outlined in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate’s Buildings and Infrastructure Protection Series, “Primer to Design Safe School Projects in Case of Terrorist Attacks and School Shootings“, FEMA-428/BIPS-07/January 2012 (Edition 2). We also utilize the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection (ATFP). In utilizing these standards John Cutter Investigations Inc. is able to provide a solid foundation for the recommendations made to each educational institution.
The results of the threat assessment are used to help prioritize which mitigation measures should be adopted, in order to achieve a desired level of protection. Identifying and addressing potential school-wide vulnerabilities is an essential part of safety planning. Effective vulnerability assessments are fluid and should be repeated on a regular basis as threat levels change, operating systems are updated, and new security countermeasures become available. The stated security areas are reviewed and professional judgments are made based on contemporary security industry norms and the “best practices and current research” in school safety planning.
Security Areas
Operational Security (e.g., security, security officers, etc.)
Physical Security (e.g., walls, barriers, doors, locks, etc.)
Electronic Security (e.g., access control, CCTV, alarms, mass notification
systems, etc.)Security Policies and Procedures (e.g., weapons policy, Emergency Response
Plan, etc.)
Reach Out to Us
In need of a safety assessment at your school? Contact us today.
School safety has become a concern for families, communities, school boards and lawmakers over the past decade. Read our case study on how we performed a security assessment at a real New York school.