School safety is a huge topic these days. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a teacher, you want to make sure our schools are safe and secure. Not only are our students not safe from outsiders, but students are not always safe from one another. Around 9% of high school students had been in a physical fight at school in the last year according to one survey.

Our children and young adults are in danger of school shootings, physical violence, and bullying. One of the best ways to keep schools safe is installing a school security camera system. Here are three reasons why your school should have video surveillance.

Cameras Deter Crimes

While cameras typically do not deter large crimes, they can deter the smaller crimes. If students know that the principal or school resource officer will check the video footage of an incident and use that footage to mete out a punishment, they will be much less likely to commit that small crime. This means that students are less likely to enter physical altercations or steal things from other students or teachers.

Deterrence can also have a huge effect on the atmosphere of a school. If students know they will be held accountable for what they have done, they will be less likely to commit incriminating acts. This means that students will experience less negative interactions every day. It’s often the smaller acts of continually bully that can make a student dread coming to school. By mitigating these acts, school districts help create an environment of welcoming and learning.

Cameras Catch Bullies

One of the largest benefits of installing cameras is the ability to check them to find out what exactly happened. Often, two students will report very different stories to a teacher or principal when questioned. One student might even deny he was even present, claiming the other student is trying to accuse him falsely. Teachers and principals can spend an hour just trying to figure out what exactly happened before even getting around to trying to address the situation with the students.

Having the ability to check footage and see who was where and when can be extremely helpful for administrators who are trying to create a culture of zero tolerance for bullying. These administrators will be able to have the full story at their fingertips, which certainly saves them time and energy. They will be able to handle the situation without any lingering questions of what happened, and they will know exactly who was present. With video surveillance, your school will not have to wonder who is causing problems.

Cameras Make the Community Feel Safe

When districts install video cameras in their school buildings, they signal to the community that they value the lives of their community’s children. One administrator in a district that began to implement video surveillance said that the cameras felt the community saw the change as an increase in children’s safety and a deterrent against theft and vandalism. Schools have seen bullying decrease in schools because the children know they are being recorded, and community members recognize that their children are attending a district that values student safety. This feeling trickles down to the students.

If a parent is saying to her child, “Your school is a safe place and a perfect atmosphere for your learning,” the child will internalize that message and begin to feel more safe at school. Feeling safe means they are better able to learn, so by installing video cameras, schools help students and families feel safer and better prepared for learning.

If your school is still without video surveillance, now is the time to get it installed. It’s an excellent way to keep your district safe, deter bullying, and create a feeling of safety.