On August 14, 1998 the Georgia Department of Education announced the arrival of Georgia's toll-free, anonymous 1-877-SAY-STOP (1-877-729-7867) school safety hotline. 1-877-SAY-STOP is the nation's first state-sponsored school safety hotline and is one example of the Georgia Safety and Violence Task Force's accomplishments.
Jeff Hodges has been selected to work the hotline. Mr. Hodges is a criminal justice graduate of the University of Georgia and is certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
How does the hotline work?
The hotline is designed for crisis prevention. If students know of an unsafe situation in school (weapons violations, bomb threats, drugs or alcohol, bullying, etc.), they can anonymously pass on that information through the hotline, initiating immediate and appropriate action.
Depending on the urgency of the call, the hotline operator contacts the appropriate law enforcement agency and the local school system. The local school system is asked to inform the Georgia Department of Education of the outcome and subsequent actions taken in conjunction with the call.
Of course, not all hotline calls are emergencies. The hotline is also a valuable information resource for educators, administrators, parents, and anyone who may have questions regarding safety in Georgia schools.
When can I call 1-877-SAY-STOP?
1-877-SAY-STOP is a toll-free, 24-hour school safety hotline. During regular business hours, the operator at the Georgia Department of Education works the hotline. Hotline calls are transferred to the Georgia Department of Public Safety after regular business hours and on weekends and holidays.
Do I have to reveal my identity?
No. Hotline callers are not asked to reveal their identities unless they choose to do so.
What is being done to promote the hotline?
To give the hotline maximum exposure, Georgia schools are asked to promote the hotline. The Georgia Department of Education developed a poster to help schools promote the hotline. The poster is available for download below.
Click here to download the hotline poster.