Jacksonville, FL — Duval County Public Schools is one of 103 schools and school districts nationwide getting funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, to improve school safety.
According to a release from the Department of Justice, Duval County Public Schools will be awarded $500,000.
COPS says these funds will provide K-12, primary and secondary schools up to 75% funding for the following safety measures:
- Coordination with law enforcement
- Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and themselves
- Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
- Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
- Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security
COPS provided $32.5 million overall to the 103 schools and school districts.
This is part of the STOP School Violence Act passed by Congress in 2018. Under that bill, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services were authorized to develop grant programs to provide funding for school safety.