In Springfield, Massachusetts, police have been given access to surveillance camera footage taken inside and outside of public school buildings, causing controversy in the community. School officials say the cameras will make schools safer by allowing police to respond quickly to emergencies. Opponents say that police could misinterpret student behavior, however, and unfairly target Black and brown students. Listen to hear school officials and community members express their views and then debate: Should police have access to school surveillance cameras?
Story Length: 5:31
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October 1, 2021
7:45
Police officers will no longer patrol the halls of public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. For the past 20 years, school resource officers (SROs) have been stationed in schools where they work closely with administrators to prevent crimes and ensure safety. Recently, however, some have argued that placing SROs in schools does not keep students safe, and may actually harm them. Their presence creates an atmosphere of intimidation, they say, and contributes to the disproportionate arrest rate of Black and Latinx students. Listen to a high school student and local politician discuss how to keep schools safe and then debate: Should schools have police officers?
Read MoreMay 18, 2018
4:26
In the wake of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, discussions about how to keep students safe have resurfaced. One approach is to employ school resource officers (SROs), police who monitor school grounds and respond to any threats. About 30 percent of all schools utilize SROs, but studies reveal that having dedicated police officers on campus doesn’t improve safety. In addition, SROs can actually cause issues for students, making their suspension, expulsion, or even arrest more likely. This is particularly problematic for students of color. For these reasons, some students argue that the money spent on SROs should be directed to other programs. Listen to hear more about the SRO debate: Do Police in Schools Make it Safer?
Read MoreMarch 7, 2018
5:07
Voice-activated devices, such as Alexa and Google Home, always have their microphones on. They are passively listening until you say the “wake” word, but people are worried they are listening and recording every single thing that is said. The owners of the devices can go into the app to see a history of everything that is heard by the device. One concern is that this data could be used to look for evidence that could help to prosecute crimes, or be reviewed by the National Security Agency. Listen to this story to hear about the pros and cons of voice-activated devices and their impact on privacy.
Read MoreDecember 9, 2016
3:52
Law enforcement’s use of facial recognition databases is expanding, but the technology is not as accurate as it could be. Nearly half of all American adults, more than 117 million people, have been entered into a database for use by police and FBI. In large databases, it is more likely to find people who look similar. This technology also does not work well with darker skin. Listen to hear more about this technology and debate whether law enforcement should rely on facial recognition.
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