Northeast > Resources > Topic Specific > Program Design, Implementation, and Adaptation > Drug-free school zones

I would like to establish a Drug Free School Zone system in my community. How do I go about doing this and where can I locate legislation on the law and find any related information?

A popular and effective approach to combating and reducing drug use amongst a community’s youth is to create a drug-free school zone initiative. This sort of initiative is more than just a piece of legislation and a set of signs. It is a means for different facets of a community to collaborate towards a unified goal using several science-based strategies. A drug-free school zone initiative combine’s policy, enforcement, communications, and collaboration strategies to help create a drug and violence free environment where students can learn, socialize, and play safely. Legislation varies from state to state and community to community, but generally laws are created to penalize offenders more heavily for any drug sale or use, gang involvement, or carrying of weapons if the offense occurs within a thousand feet of a school, or within a park or other public area any drug use or selling within the zone. How effective and wide-ranging the initiative becomes depends upon the ability of various community sectors to collaborate with each other. It is most effective when schools work with parents, students, school personnel, police, and local residents. A comprehensive communications campaign clarifying the law and underscoring the severe penalties is an effective communications approach to publicize the initiative, educate local residents, and aid police in the enforcement process.

Five Steps to Take *

1. Build a drug-free school zone coalition that includes representatives from law enforcement, schools, parent groups, civic clubs, youth organizations, businesses, religious institutions, local government, drug treatment centers, other social service agencies, public housing authorities, and the courts.

2. Mobilize the community — talk to key people, build partnerships, assess the community's drug problems.

3. Create a shared vision of a safe and drug-free environment for children. Set goals and design strategies to meet them.

4. Establish the drug-free school zone by researching laws and establishing formal partnership agreements with school administrators, city officials, and law enforcement. Name a coordinator, measure and map the zone, post signs (check with law enforcement and city officials regarding wording and placement), and publicize the project. Kick off with special school assemblies, a parents’ organization meeting, a proclamation, and press conference.

5. Celebrate successes with award ceremonies, family events, posters, publicity, and T-shirts. Have young people plan and run a drug-free celebration.

* Source: National Crime Control Prevention Council

Other Related Documents and Websites

• Find the federal law on drug free zones (US Code: Title 21, Section 860) at:
  http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/21/860.text.html

• View a good model of procedures and policies established by King County, Washington to designate school free zones at:
  http://www.metrokc.gov/recelec/archives/policies/psf81ae.htm

• Review two sources for securing appropriate signage at:
  http://www.burtonsigns.com/signs/S2-8.html

 

Please contact the Northeast CAPT at captonline@edc.org for more information.