Tag Archives: crime

Searching for Safety in Schools

If you feel as though there has been a school shooting every week in 2019, then you are not exaggerating. In 46 weeks, there have been 45 school shootings, according to CNN. With more than 180 school shootings in the last ten years, student safety has become one of the first priorities in American education today.

One approach is to say that students should be prepared for these incidents with seminars or drills, but there is a concern that that experience can be traumatizing for students of all ages.

“We don’t want to go too overboard, ” Safe Kids Inc. vice-president Scott Coleman said. “[We don’t want to take measures] that make schools feel like a jail.” Coleman said having a healthy school culture is as important as physical security.  Safe Kids Inc. is a group of law enforcement officers and educators committed to preventing violence while empowering students and educators. Safe Kids Inc. employs former police officers, like Coleman, to try to bring safety and learning together in harmony.

“That’s what I left law enforcement to focus on: equipping students with age-appropriate resources to deal with violence,” Coleman said. “We want students to understand that violence is statistically unlikely to find a student at school. School is still a really safe place to be.”

Another aspect of the school shooting crisis is providing better mental health care to students. Discussions of mental health always begin after every school shooting, with many wondering if something could have been done to prevent it, and others asking how to help those affected by them.

“Do we know every student’s name, face, and story?” Dr. Loretta Whitson, Executive Director of the California Association of School Counselors, asked. “Do we have enough support staff, like school counselors, to help teachers identify students with prevailing issues? I would say we don’t have that, and that is extremely important.”

The recommended ratio for students to counselors is 250:1, which might still seem to be a large number of students for one counselor to keep track of. In California, there aren’t nearly enough counselors to begin to help the students who need them.

“It’s identifying [problems] early, and building relationships,” Whitson said. “Our ratio [in California] is nearly three times the average, with 622 students for each counselor, so it’s very difficult to develop a relationship.”

The demand for school counselors is at an all-time high. Every Town for Gun Safety reports more than 100 gunfire incidents near schools in the United States this year, including incidents where no one was harmed. These incidents have resulted in 26 deaths.

“We don’t want to tell students to fight,” Coleman said. Safe Kids Inc. came up with a system to help students before and after a shooting occurs: H.E.R.O. (Hide, Escape, Run, Overcome). “We would rather tell them to overcome, both physically and mentally, in the aftermath, as they’re dealing with trauma.”

Some states have started using school shooting drills to help students be ready in the case of a shooting. Both Whitson and Coleman agreed that these drills can be extremely beneficial. The key element is to make sure that the drills are performed appropriately to avoid traumatizing students.

The trauma caused by school shootings lasts longer when it goes unnoticed or unspoken. Now more than ever, students nationwide require the resources to empower themselves. Students also need the resources to feel heard in the chaos of growing up. While prevention of school shootings seems almost impossible, what we can control is how we respond as a community to those events.

Moderator: Jenny Almanza

Producer: Jenny Almanza

Anchor: Tamie Benitez

Social Media Editor: Vivian Rayos

Reporters: Jenny Almanza, Tamie Benitez, Damian Gordon, Vivian Rayos and Joe Willeford

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Meet the Chief

Many public institutions such as CSUN continue to be open campus environments, which has raised the question of whether the students and staff are protected enough against threats to their security. California is home to 23 CSU campuses, all of which are open to the public, making these schools potentially more vulnerable to campus safety issues.

New CSUN Chief of Police Gregory Murphy said he is considering the idea of implementing cameras around campus to make it easier to prevent crime.

“I’m looking at bolstering the number of cameras on our campus and in public places, so that we have better eyes on the campus,” Murphy said. “I’m looking at video analytics, to be able to identify anomalies…so that we can be alerted to things…[and can] intervene if something takes place….[Video] also lends itself to the investigative phase, because it provides us with evidence.”

In December 2018, hate-filled messages and threats were found in bathroom stalls on campus; they concerned students, faculty and administration enough that the campus was closed.  In September of this year, more hate-filled messages were discovered, again in a classroom building bathroom. University President Dianne F. Harrison sent a letter reassuring the community that it was safe, and that an investigation was ongoing.

The instances of hate-filled messages on college campuses has greatly increased over the past few months. “This morning, I was in conversation with a forensic psychologist who focuses on campuses around California and the nation, and he further supported the assertion that there is a rise [of these incidents] on college campuses,” Murphy said.

But Murphy said the possibility of being able to arrest the individuals who are writing these messages is very rare. “These investigations are often long lasting,” he said, “because the ability and potential to get suspected individuals, who decide to go into a restroom understanding they are operating in secrecy [is low]….Absent of someone confessing to doing the activity, [the chances of catching them are] very remote.”

Murphy said the intent of these messages is uncertain, however, they should be taken as seriously as possible, in order to prevent further consequences.

Some CSUN students said they fear students are not being notified about many crimes, such as sexual assaults, that take place on campus. But all colleges and universities are required under the Clery Act to keep records of campus crime, and notify the community.

“The heart of the issue is, quite frankly, what is the right thing to do? We want to inform the community with the information that best allows them or provides them the ability to care for their safety,” Murphy said. “Understanding that there is an environment in which, if these actions are ongoing, certainly there is an obligation to let people know that.”

Other members of the CSUN community said they don’t necessarily feel fully prepared to deal with incidents in their educational environment, and are concerned about not knowing what to do if there is an active shooter.

“We have implemented a training program,” Murphy said. “It’s referred to as ASSERT, and it’s Active Shooter Survival Escape and Reaction Training. It’s consistent with run, hide, and fight, but what I really put emphasis on is the fight portion. Quite frankly, [it’s designed] to empower folk to have the will to survive.”

As authorities make their best efforts to implement higher security around campuses, the fact that many universities are open to the public may remain a disadvantage.

“A public state university is a part of the community,” Murphy said. “It is an extension of the community; it’s integrated into the community; and in that sense, there isn’t necessarily an outside to the campus. So that does create a greater challenge to safety and security, because your measures to establish a boundary around the campus are just not there.”

Anchor: Carol Santamaria

Moderator: Yarazeth Tapia

Producer: Zach Ferber

Social Media Editor: Ryder Mcconville

Reporters: Ali Bash, Zach Ferber, Ryder Mcconville, Karen Ruiz, Carol Santamaria and Yarazeth Tapia

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Too Many People; Too Many Cars

It’s no secret that Los Angeles is one of most heavily congested cities in America. Traffic congestion, that is. According to INRIX, the average Los Angeles driver spends 102 hours stuck in traffic during rush hour.

Los Angeles also has an extensive public transportation system, L.A Metro, that  has been around for almost fifty years. Metro has worked over the years to plan and implement new projects to help traffic congestion. But a question that many drivers consider while sitting in gridlocked traffic is, how did we get to this point?

“One of the reasons includes the disparity between jobs and housing, [and the] balance [between] where people live, and where people work,” said Naresh Amatya, Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Manager. “[Others reasons are] just the sheer number of people who live in this region, and the fact that our infrastructure is really overburdened with the number of people that we have in the region.”

Although the traffic on highways, freeways, and side street detours seems worse everyday, Los Angeles is pushing for number one in terms of the public transportation system, and Metro has been promoting alternatives from walking to high speed rail. Metro has also approved the 28 by 28 plan: 28 projects planned to handle the needs of those attending the 2028 Olympics.

“It’s an effort to put some of the key projects [ahead] — not ahead of the commitment we made in Measure M — but to highlight them, in case there are additional resources that can help to move them forward,” said Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Metro Board Member. “So that in 28 by 2028, [for] both the Olympics and the Paralympics, that we will have a net of rail systems in place.” The plan is to bring in public-private partnerships in order to make the whole system work.

“In the San Fernando Valley, we are looking at the East San Fernando Valley light rail project,” said Dave Perry, Policy Deputy for County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, “[and at] the Sepulveda Pass, which is obviously a very big project, a very big deal for the thousands and thousands of commuters everyday that are going through the 405 corridor. There is North Hollywood to Pasadena BRT connecter. There’s a lot of great stuff in there.”

The Sepulveda Transit Corridor is going to provide a high capacity transit line to connect the San Fernando Valley with the West Side and ultimately with LAX. Metro is looking at various concepts and refining them. One of these concepts compares the 110 minute drive on the freeway through the Sepulveda Pass, to the 15-25 minute commute Metro is hoping to provide.

“Metro is trying to make a dramatic difference in people’s commute times,” Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero said.

Many people want to see these changes happen soon, over the next couple years.

“I think there are still a lot of places missing the amount of transit that they really need, and maybe more frequent service,” said CSUN Professor of Urban Studies and Planning Yvette Lopez-Ledesma. “This would encourage a movement towards more transit. It’s not just up to one agency to handle this; it’s really about several agencies.”

Public transportation will continue to grow in Los Angeles, but ultimately it is up to the public to make the decision to leave their cars at home, and decide between the comfort of their own cars or no traffic. It all comes down to safety and comfort as well.

“It’s not just about getting to the bus stop,” Lopez-Ledesma said. “It’s about what happens when you arrive at that bus stop. Is there shade? Are you protected? Do you feel safe?”

Moderator: Enrie Amezcua

Producer: Coraima Hurtado

Anchor: Gloria Alas

Social Media Editor: Karissa Preciado

Reporters: Gloria Alas, Enrie Amezcua, Christopher Farias, Darya Hariri, Jamontae Hickman, Coraima Hurtado, Karissa Preciado

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Safety from Solidarity

Students at California State University, Northridge may have reason to wonder if they’re safe, especially with nationwide campus threats during recent years.
According to the Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security Data, in 2014 private schools in Southern California such as Loyola Mount University and the University of Southern California, had higher crime rates than two public schools in the area, California State University, Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge.

“I don’t think [private or public] ownership is the factor here,” CSUN Sociology Professor Victor Shaw said. “I think what matters is location and the way the university operates. The location of the University of Southern California happens to sit in the part of the city which is highly problematic.”

CSUN has certain safety programs and measures available throughout campus. Besides the campus police, students may use the Matador Patrol, student escorts available every evening. More than ninety blue emergency lights have been installed all over campus, and the dorms are accessible only to residents with electronic key cards.

“I think our department of police services is particularly concerned with student safety and communicating with students,” Melissa Giles, Associate Director of Residential Life said. “I think the command staff really listens when students have concerns. For such a large campus, CSUN is safe.”

Although CSUN has installed these safety measures, some students say they still feel that campus lighting is an issue when it comes to feeling completely safe on campus.

“In the Campus Safety Ad Hoc Committee, that was an issue that was brought up,” Nick Jackson, Associated Students senator said. “We did have talks with Captain Scott VanScoy, and there are spots on campus that are more populated than others. You’ll see more students going around the USU than you would see near Nordhoff Hall. There’s going to be more lighted areas where there’s more traffic. We’re still trying to get more funding for lights.”

While administrators at Cal State Northridge have made efforts to ensure the safety of students and staff, there are still improvements, being sought by the university, among them more and better communication about what already exists.

“We have so many safety measures built around students that will work, if the students choose to let them work or to work with them,” said Tim Trevan, Director of Student Housing and Conference Services.

Moderator: Dana Lites

Producers: Dana Lites and Cynthia Marin

Anchor: Trevor Edwards

Social Media Editor: Marissa Reyes

Reporters: Trevor Edwards, Dana Lites, Cynthia Marin, Noemi Salcedo, Char’Tre Steward and Flor Tolentino

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Profiting from Punishment

In a population of more than 320 million American citizens, The Prison Policy Initiative estimates around 2.3 million of those citizens are incarcerated in local, state and federal prisons. Of those, more than 433,000 are serving time in federal prison for drug-related offenses.

According to NAACP, African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of Caucasians. Combined with the Hispanic population, these two minority groups comprise around 58 percent of all prisoners, even though they make up around 25 percent of the U.S. population.

“The whole criminalization of drugs really impacts minorities more than anybody else,” said Jane Bayes, CSUN political science professor. “Those are the people who are being picked up for drugs and targeted for drugs… I’m not even sure they’re the major consumers of them [though], because many whites are not targeted in the same way by law enforcement.”

According to The Sentencing Project, more people are incarcerated today just for drug-related crimes, than for all crimes in 1980.

“To a certain degree, you may look at racial profiling and stereotyping [as the reason], depending …[on the]…law enforcement agencies concerned,” said Los Angeles Harbor College political science professor Van Chaney. “I still think that is a problem within law enforcement.”

Chaney said minority groups are incarcerated at higher rates for a variety of reasons, such as lack of good legal representation, dysfunctional families and communities, and low income.

“We are all familiar with the zip code 90210,” Chaney said. “If you have a helicopter in that area at two in the morning … compared to say, Figueroa and King … who would the DEA’s office probably take the case with? Would it be at 90210, compared to South LA or at least South Central LA? Just the name itself changes [things]. I mean it’s that discrepancy that affects, unfortunately, a lot of minority groups.”

The Sentencing Project also reported that people of color make up about 37 percent of the U.S. population, but comprise 67 percent of the total prison population. A TIME study estimates black youth are arrested for drug crimes at a rate 10 times higher than whites, but whites are more likely to abuse these drugs.

Another controversy is the increasing privatization and profitability of prisons. According to the Drug Police Alliance, federal and state governments have spent over $1 trillion on the so-called war on drugs over the past four decades, relying on tax dollars to pay the bills.

“To me, one of the biggest problems is we’ve made prisons into money making operations,” Bayes said, “and that provides all kinds of new incentives to fill the prisons and to keep them [full,] too.”

Private prisons make a huge profit from incarcerating drug offenders, according to the NAACP, mainly due to the mandatory minimum sentencing put in place for drug possession. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the average prison sentence for federal drug offenders is more than 11 years. According to the VERA Institute of Justice , the total cost to house prisoners ranged from $14,603 in Kentucky, to $60,076 in New York, per inmate each year. Critics suggest taxpayer dollars are not being well spent, considering that more than two-thirds of all incarcerated prisoners will return to prison within three years of being released.

The debate over the war on drugs is an ongoing one among many Americans, who are concerned about how their tax dollars are spent. Considering the high rate of recidivism, and how much money is spent to imprison drug offenders, many question whether the criminal justice system of prisons is a big business, or a new form of slavery, or both.

Moderator: Nicholas Seaman

Anchor: Caitlin Pieh

Producer: Nicholas Seaman

Social Media Editors: Noemi Barajas and Juaneeq Elliott

Reporters: Noemi Barajas, Halie Cook, Juaneeq Elliott, Ala Errebhi, Caitlin Pieh, Jamie Perez and Nicholas Seaman

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