The SafeSchools Louisiana app has been deployed to more than 500 schools across the state. Crimestopper’s President Darlene Cusanza said the app gives students and parents a way to anonymously report on-campus concerns, like guns, fights, drugs, or even potential self-harm. She said the whole idea is to be preventative.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to kind of be in a place where they are already comfortable, which means online using an app, and sending a video, photo, or whatever it is,” said Cusanza.
Cusanza said when a threat is reported it’s a team approach with local law enforcement and school leaders.
“So, if one of those threats comes in in the middle of the night, and it’s an active threat, we have a process in place so that the school is able to work on that immediately,” said Cusanza.
When using the SafeSchools Louisiana app, which is free to download, you look up the city where the school is located and follow the prompts. Cusanza said it asks you what you need to report and how you know the information.
“It’s in the kid’s language, so it makes it very easy for them to be able to kind of maneuver through the system, and then of course at the end it gives you a ticket number which keeps you anonymous,” said Cusanza.
If your school isn’t partnered with the app, Cusanza said school leaders should reach out to Crimestoppers to have their school trained and added to the system.
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