Because of recent school violence episodes, communities around the country have put pressure on school districts to incorporate more extensive security measures into their safety programs. The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools is a guide to help school administrators and their colleagues in law enforcement analyze a school's vulnerability to violence, theft, and vandalism, and research possible technologies to effectively address these problems. This NIJ Research Report is based on a 7-year study of more than 100 schools and offers practical guidance on several aspects of security, including security concepts and operational issues, video surveillance, weapons detection devices, entry controls, and duress alarms.