| Operation CleanSWEEP
What Is Operation CleanSWEEP?
In 1996, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department recognized that there was a growing trend of crime on school campuses. A committee of deputies, lawyers, judges, probation officers and school officials was formed to assess the problem and to design a program that would offer a safer campus for our students. The result was Operation CleanSWEEP, a multifaceted program that seeks to enhance the security of all students in county schools, while at the same time establishing responsibility, discipline and accountability in respect to student's actions.
How CleanSWEEP Works
THE THREE COMPONENTS OF CleanSWEEP
In September 1997, then Sheriff Gary Penrod launched Operation CleanSWEEP in 3 San Bernardino County Schools. Demand for the program grew to 13 schools that first year. Currently there are 113 schools on the program.
JUVENILE CITATION COMPONENT
The Juvenile Citation Component is used by the Principals and Administration at the school campuses. This makes CleanSWEEP unique. School leaders are trained by deputies; they learn how to identify the elements of some crimes commonly committed on school campuses. For each of these incidents, the trained cite writer will write the student a Notice to Appear. A deputy will then review the Notice to Appear and issue the juvenile the citation. All cited juveniles will appear with their parents before a Juvenile Traffic Court Commissioner or Judge.
If convicted, the sentence does not go on the juvenile's criminal record. It is only reflected on the driving record if there is a Failure to Appear or a failure to comply. If the juvenile fails to appear in court, or if terms of the suspended sentence are not met, the juvenile's driver license can be suspended up until the time he or she is 23 or older. If the juvenile doesn't have a driver's license, he or she will not be allowed to get one until the violations are cleared up.
If a monetary fine is imposed, every effort will be made to secure payment from the juvenile. However, if the juvenile does not have a source of income, the legal parent or guardian will have to pay the fine. Additionally, the juvenile will be ordered to attend Anger Management, Smoking Cessation, or Defensive Driving Courses, or some other helpful resource, as a term of his or her sentence.
SCHOOL SECURITY ASSESSMENTS COMPONENT
This extremely valuable component is exceptionally in-depth. A team of deputies meet with the school administration to assess the overall security of the campus. Several tests are used, including questionnaires to students and staff, as well as a physical survey of the campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Once the assessment is completed, the results and recommendations are given to the school's principal and district superintendent.
SPECIAL PROJECTS COMPONENT
Operation CleanSWEEP also goes out to each of the schools and gives special presentations to students, staff, and parents. The presentations are tailored to fit the needs of the campus and the community. For example, there are Safety Fairs, Drug Use Recognition, Gang Identification, and Parent's Rights and Responsibilities for parents. For students there are programs such as live action simulations of the hazards of drunk driving. For staff and administration there is in-service training on Drug Use Identification and Disaster Preparedness.
Operation CleanSWEEP will assist and train school administrators in how to deal with law enforcement emergencies, such as armed and violent subjects on their campuses, riots, and suicides. It will also address Crisis Prevention issues, as well as how to deal with the aftermath of a crisis situation.
SUCCESSES
Effectiveness of the Program
In the first year of Operation CleanSWEEP's existence there was a drop in the amount of crime on every campus where it was utilized. One school district saw a 37% decrease in crime, and another a 57% decrease, measured in calls-for-service to the local Sheriff's station. The increased cooperation and partnership between all of the agencies and schools involved has resulted in both students and administration reporting that, overall, they feel their campus has a safer learning and living environment. The school administration is able to handle many of the incidents on their own, instead of involving a deputy to initiate a criminal report.
PROJECTED EXPANSION
Any interested schools or police agencies are encouraged to contact the CleanSWEEP team for more information. Out-of-county and out-of-state proposals are also considered.
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