Meeting Alyssa's Law Requirements with AI Security Cameras

Schools in many states are asking themselves how they can learn more about Alyssa’s Law and begin to enact the necessary steps to meet the law’s requirements as more and more states pass the legislation.

This article aims to help schools identify a key technology they can employ to help drastically improve the security of their school and meet these new requirements. But first, let’s cover the basics.

What is Alyssa’s Law?

Alyssa’s law is legislation related to school safety protocols, named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a school shooting victim. The law outlines key security measures that public schools are required to implement to help prevent mass casualties. It has been passed in several states including New Jersey, Florida, and New York, and many other states are following suit.

What are the Main Requirements for Alyssa’s Law?

Alyssa’s law has numerous versions, with different states enacting slightly different adaptations of a core set of requirements. The core requirements typically include the use or implementation of the following:

• Silent panic alarms: Schools must install silent panic alarm systems that are directly linked to local law enforcement.
• Direct communication: These alarms should provide a way for schools to immediately notify law enforcement in case of an emergency or life-threatening situation.
• Quick response: The system aims to reduce response times for law enforcement and emergency services during critical incidents.
• Implementation timeline: Schools are usually given a specific timeframe to comply with the law's requirements.
• Funding: Some versions of the law include provisions for state funding to help schools implement the required systems.

As mentioned, the specific details of the school safety measures required may vary slightly depending on the state, as Alyssa's Law has been passed in several states including New Jersey, Florida, and New York. If you need information about a particular state's version of the law, the formal Alyssa’s Law website has an up-to-date breakdown of each version as well as the states that have passed such laws.

How Can AI Security Cameras Help Schools Meet Alyssa’s Law Requirements

AI security camera software, like Volt.ai, can help schools meet the requirements set forth by Alyssa’s law, often without a massive investment. Because over 93% of public schools already use security cameras to monitor their campus, this can be as simple as adding AI monitoring software that is compatible with the majority of existing security camera systems.

Intelligence software like Volt.ai primarily helps with meeting the first three bullet points noted in the Alyssa’s law requirements above: silent panic alarms, direct communication, and quick response.

Key features of Volt.ai’s AI security software help in maintaining Alyssa's Law compliance in both the identification of incidents faster than other solutions and in contacting law enforcement. Let’s start from the beginning.

Step 1: Weapon Detection

Volt.ai’s state of the art weapon detection system is incredibly accurate, and can even recognize a firearm even when held down at a person’s side. When combined with a school’s existing security camera system, it provides immediate ability to recognize weapons even before a weapon is in use.

Step 2: Notification and Confirmation of Weapon

Volt.ai also offers complete “human-in-the-loop validation” through our 24/7 staffed Virtual Security Operations Center (VSOC). This means every potential detection of a weapon is also verified by a trained expert.

Custom notifications can immediately notify the staff members of your choice in real-time through mobile devices and smartwatches.

Step 3: Law Enforcement Intervention

Volt.ai’s system includes direct nationwide 911 integration and allows schools to identify custom escalation chains. Each school can choose to automatically notify law enforcement and emergency responders upon human confirmation of a weapon notification or allow your staff to review the notification before contacting law enforcement (making it flexible for each school to meet the variations present in different state implementations of Alyssa’s Law).

Improving Response Times from Minutes to Seconds

The value of a system like this is that it can help reduce reliance on humans to catch problems, it shifts response from reactive (after a shooting or incident has started) to proactive (notification at the immediate recognition of a weapon, often before it has even been used).

Learn more about how schools like Prescott High School have pressure tested Volt.ai’s weapon recognition system, and reduced their response times for school security issues of all kinds from minutes or hours to seconds.

Volt.ai: Stop School Shootings Before They can Even Begin

Here at Volt.ai, we’re dedicated to changing the statistics around school shootings one school at a time. Meet with a member of our passionate and dedicated team today to get a demo of the features that can help prevent a catastrophe when seconds can save lives.