School Safety Section

History

Overview

The Fluvanna County School Resource Officer Unit is a School Law Enforcement Partnership between the Sheriff’s Office, the School System, and the communities of Fluvanna County. Currently, the Sheriff’s Office funds three full-time deputies, in the middle and high schools. The county has a total of five public schools. The SROs provide proactive assistance with safety and crime prevention activities through a variety of programs and other contacts. The program is interactive and focuses on its core goal to secure a positive learning climate. 

Responsibilities

SROs serve multiple roles in Fluvanna County Public Schools. The roles are interrelated but all are carried out to contribute to school safety and security and to promote positive and supportive school climates. Key roles are: 

Law Enforcement Officer

As sworn law enforcement officers, SROs’ primary role in schools is as a law enforcement officer. SROs assume primary responsibility for responding to requests for assistance from administrators and coordinating the response of other law enforcement resources to the school. SROs should work with school administrators in problem-solving to prevent crime and promote safety in the school environment. SROs should also collaborate with school personnel to reduce student engagement with the juvenile justice system and divert students from the courts when possible.

Law-related Educator

As resources, SROs should strive to assist with presentations for school personnel on law-related topics such as law enforcement practices, changes in relevant laws, crime trends, crime prevention, school safety strategies, and crisis response procedures. SROs also deliver law-related education with students using lessons/curricula approved in advance by the SRO Supervisor. In all cases, responding to incidents or conducting investigations will take precedence over the delivery of presentations.

Positive Mentor and Role Model

Students often seek approval, direction, and guidance from adults in the school setting about various problems. Through formal and informal interaction with students, SROs serve as informal counselors/mentors and role models, who provide guidance to students and act as a link to support services both inside and outside the school environment. SROs are expected to communicate clearly to students about acceptable and unacceptable behavior, to set a positive example in handling stressful situations and resolving conflicts, to show respect and consideration of others, and to express high expectations for student behavior. Students who may need additional assistance shall be referred to a school-based resource.         

Prevention through Education

Virginia Rules – Law-related Education

• Virginia Rules is Virginia’s state-specific, law-related education program for middle and high school students. The purpose of Virginia Rules is to educate young Virginians about Virginia laws and help them develop skills needed to make sound decisions, avoid breaking laws, and become active citizens of their schools and communities.
• Virginia Rules features lessons designed for middle and high school students, and this website is designed for use by students, parents, school administrators, and Virginia Rules instructors.
• Virginia Rules classes are taught in person and virtually to classes with middle and  high school students throughout Fluvanna County in public and private settings
• All of the material is S.O.L. (Standards of Learning) correlated with the Department of Education.

Law Enforcement Explorer Post 1918 – Career Education

• Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program open to young men and women who have completed the 6th grade through 20 years old, interested in a career in law enforcement or a related field in the criminal justice system.
• The program offers young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities. Additionally, the program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship, and patriotism.

Y.O.V.A.S.O. (Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety)

• The Youth of Virginia Speak Out is a statewide, peer-to-peer education and leadership program that empowers teenagers to work towards the prevention of their number one health concern – motor vehicle crashes. YOVASO youth lead change for young driver and passenger safety.
• Focuses on traffic safety among teens.

Youth Alcohol and Drug Prevention Project (YADAPP)

• The Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project (YADAPP) is a peer-led program for high school students to address underage substance use at the high school level. YADAPP Teams of four student Participants and a dedicated (your SRO) Adult Sponsor attend a week-long summer kick-off conference to develop strategic prevention plans addressing underage drug and alcohol use in their schools and communities.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)

• The most comprehensive evidence-based K-12 prevention education program in the world is taught in Fluvanna County Public Schools by your SROS.
• This year millions of schoolchildren around the world will benefit from D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), the highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence.

Operation Redirection

This is a graduated intervention program. That aims to reduce juvenile exposure in the criminal justice system.

Helps develop a system of graduated interventions.

• The Redirection program is designed to intervene in the lives of youth involved in risk-taking behavior. The program will intervene in three ways:
  • Prevention
  • Intervention
  • Diversion

R.I.C.H.S. (Respect, Integrity, Courage, Honor, and Sacrifice)– Mentoring

The goal of this SRO-lead mentor program is to provide at-risk students with extra resources that they may not already have.  We aim to help provide them with the necessary tools to be able to work through their issues and problems with support.  Individually we will assist the student with goal setting and assist them with how to obtain their goals.  They will be expected to attend a weekly one on one meeting with their SRO Mentor to focus on any new or existing challenges. 

Handle with Care (H.W.C.)

The HANDLE WITH CARE program is a trauma-informed approach to education that promotes resiliency in children.  Model programs are built around school-community partnerships aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to trauma in their home, school, or community receive appropriate interventions to help them achieve academically at their highest levels.  The ultimate goal of H.W.C. is to help students succeed in school.