Security Cameras

[Karen Sue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Is it legal to have security cameras throughout public schools with audio capability and no signs posted stating the area is being observed?

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Is it legal to have security cameras throughout public schools with audio capability and no signs posted stating the area is being observed?

Please define "throughout".

In the "public" areas of the school, where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, I don't see any problem.

 

[adjusterjack]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Is it legal to have security cameras throughout public schools with audio capability and no signs posted stating the area is being observed?

Google the topic and you'll find it's a hotly debated topic all over the country. However, it appears that more and more schools are installing high tech security cameras where they will do the most good.

If you are concerned with being observed, then behave yourself and don't do anything for which you don't want to be observed.

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Is it legal to have security cameras throughout public schools with audio capability and no signs posted stating the area is being observed?

If you are interested in learning the laws, and case law, that address surveillance cameras in schools, following is a link to an excellent (albeit older) paper written by Kevin P. Brady titled, "Video Camera Surveillance in Public School Settings: Emerging Technologies, Privacy, and the Role of the Fourth Amendment."

http://www.cepi.vcu.edu/media/university-relations/cepi/pdfs/surveillance.pdf

If you want direct links to the specific cases discussed by Brady, let me know and I will be happy to provide them.

 

[Karen Sue]

Please define "throughout".

In the "public" areas of the school, where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, I don't see any problem.

"Throughout " Each end of hallway, stairwells, cafeteria, front office, gymnasium so far.

 

[Zigner]

"Throughout " Each end of hallway, stairwells, cafeteria, front office, gymnasium so far.

In other words, public places with no reasonable expectation of privacy.

 

[Karen Sue]

Google the topic and you'll find it's a hotly debated topic all over the country. However, it appears that more and more schools are installing high tech security cameras where they will do the most good.

If you are concerned with being observed, then behave yourself and don't do anything for which you don't want to be observed.

Lol! I will try. . I work there. I thought "listening in" was illegal.

 

[quincy]

"Throughout " Each end of hallway, stairwells, cafeteria, front office, gymnasium so far.

The school needs to be careful about the placement of security cameras in the gymnasium. The cameras should not be positioned so they show the locker rooms. Middle school parents in Overton, Tennessee, were awarded over $4 million in damages when surveillance cameras with wide-angle lenses were placed in the school gym and captured views of the young male and female students undressing in the locker room.

 

[Karen Sue]

The school needs to be careful about the placement of security cameras in the gymnasium. The cameras should not be positioned so they show the locker rooms. Middle school parents in Overton, Tennessee, were awarded over $4 million in damages when surveillance cameras with wide-angle lenses were placed in the school gym and captured views of the young male and female students undressing in the locker room.

I appreciate your input and will definitely look into the link that you sent earlier.

 

[ajkroy]

Cameras in schools can also be subject to negotiation by the unions. In my school, we have them in all public areas (and are reviewed frequently when there is a fight or illicit activity in the stairwell, etc), but cannot have them in the classrooms.

Personally, I wouldn't mind allowing cameras in the classroom, but many of my colleagues would quit first.

 

[Karen Sue]

Cameras in schools can also be subject to negotiation by the unions. In my school, we have them in all public areas (and are reviewed frequently when there is a fight or illicit activity in the stairwell, etc), but cannot have them in the classrooms.

Personally, I wouldn't mind allowing cameras in the classroom, but many of my colleagues would quit first.

The cameras we had for several years were just video. The new cameras have both audio/video. I was curious if the audio was legal.