A Cooperative and Collaborative PIMS Reporting Process Between Schools and Law Enforcement Establishing a Unified Crime Reporting Process To Avoid Inaccurate, Unverified and Untimely Reporting

Mandate Requirements No Later than thirty (30) days prior to the deadline for submitting the report to the Office (July 31 st ), the chief school administrator shall submit the report to the police department with jurisdiction. The police department shall review the report. No later than fifteen (15) days prior to the deadline the police department must notify in writing whether the report accurately reflects police incident data or; If not accurate the police department shall indicate the discrepancies between the report and police incident data. The chief school administrator and department shall attempt to resolve the discrepancies.

Process Challenges (Part 1) Law Enforcement most likely not familiar with the PIMS Reporting Specifics (Manual) – What is an incident? – Specific entry requirements? Police Departments use various Records Management Systems to collect their data Was the incident a crime or not. If so what crime. Where did the incident take place? School Internal coding vs PIMS coding

Process Challenges (Part 2) Keeping each other informed of crimes/incidents – Parents reporting crimes directly to the police – Police locating criminal activity on school property – Schools not notifying law enforcement of incident Timely submission of the PIMS report to the police Timely return of the PIMS report to the school by police Working through discrepancies

Best Practices (Part 1) Cooperation, Collaboration and Communication – Communication Process – Share the appropriate parts of the annual PIMS manual Don’t lose sight of the goal of the Reporting process – Accuracy – Verifiable (complete) – Timely submission Identify and work with the same law enforcement officer during the process. Identify the team. Work with a consistent building and district level data collection and incident reporting team.

Best Practices (Part 2) Verify the incidents with law enforcement during the course of the school year. Work through the “gray area” incidents to get an agreement during the course of the school year. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit the report to the police. Complete a annual team review of the process. – evaluate the effectiveness of the process – identify any changes needed to improve the process.

Consequences  Title 18 Pa. C.S. Section 4904, Relating to Unsworn Falsification to Authorities; a chief school administrator or principal of a school entity who: Intentionally fails to report or who intentionally falsifies a report shall be subject to prosecution Misdemeanor of the second or third degree  Professional Educator Discipline Act  For a first violation $2,  For a second violation $3,  For a third or subsequent violation $5,000.00

Contact Information Steven A. Beck Montgomery County Department of Public Safety School Safety Coordinator Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus 1175 Conshohocken Road Conshohocken, Pa Ext