Miami schools implement Phoenix IVS system

Sept. 26, 2008
Intelligent video helps reduce crime at Florida high school

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Predators, thieves, vandals and bullies: Beware - there is new technology at work to make schools safer from you - Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS) developed by Phoenix IVS. Phoenix IVS plays an important role in aiding school administrators, security and police personnel to rid schools of violence, weapons, substance abuse, vandalism and other hazards.

Safety and security for students is a top priority for parents, teachers, school administrators, and law enforcement. It is of much greater value to prevent an incident from occurring on school property and avoiding the negative impact to the educational environment than to gather evidence after an incident through traditional video surveillance recordings. New advancements in video surveillance technology provide a solution. Intelligent video surveillance gathers data and information and provides that information in real-time to school security and police.

Phoenix IVS can protect one school or an entire district of schools over hundreds of square miles, protecting thousands of students and faculty. With intelligent video, the entire perimeter of the school facility and every entry and exit point can be protected 24 hours a day, 7 days as week - including holidays. The system allows for the dissemination of data throughout the educational system that provides actionable information to onsite school staff, county school administrators, and law enforcement personnel. "The ability to be pro-active with video surveillance is essential to reducing incidents at schools and ensuring the best educational environment for students," said Adrian Esquivel, Technology Director for Phoenix IVS.

Miami Northwestern Senior High School, one of the largest high schools in Miami, Florida, deployed the Phoenix IVS system in the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year. The results are clear: in the 2007-2008 school year, there was a 34% drop in the 19 serious incident types categorized by Miami-Dade Schools Police from the previous year including:

- 62% decrease in Aggravated Assault - 72% decrease in Aggravated Battery - 44% decrease in Simple Battery - 50% decrease in Robbery - 72% decrease in Weapon Related Incidents

"The Phoenix IVS system increases our effectiveness and aids us in ensuring safety and security at our schools, our number one priority," said Charles Hurley, Interim Police Chief for Miami-Dade Schools Police.

The system has been tested and approved for deployments at other area public schools in Miami-Dade County Public Schools by the end of 2008. Overall, the Phoenix IVS solution has met and exceeded the objectives identified by Miami-Dade Schools Police in reducing the level of incidents.

See complete details in the full white paper at http://www.phoenixivs.com/news.aspxa.