ALICE ALICE Legal and Policy Framework 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should an organization document ALICE training to support legal defensibility?
- Keep training records secret to avoid liability
- Maintain attendance logs, training materials, drill after-action reports, and policy acknowledgments (Correct answer)
- Only document injuries that occur during drills
- Documentation is not necessary if a certified ALICE instructor leads the training
Correct answer: Maintain attendance logs, training materials, drill after-action reports, and policy acknowledgments
Thorough documentation demonstrates due diligence and that reasonable steps were taken to prepare personnel, which is critical for legal defensibility.
Question 2: Which policy element is recommended when introducing ALICE to ensure equity and inclusivity?
- Restricting ALICE training to administrators only
- Developing accommodation plans for individuals with disabilities or special needs (Correct answer)
- Excluding students with IEPs from drills entirely
- Using only one-size-fits-all drill formats regardless of population
Correct answer: Developing accommodation plans for individuals with disabilities or special needs
Organizations must develop individualized accommodation plans so people with disabilities can participate safely and effectively in ALICE protocols.
Question 3: What is the recommended policy stance on communicating ALICE protocols to the broader school or workplace community?
- Keep all details confidential to prevent adversaries from learning the plan
- Share general protocols with all stakeholders while protecting sensitive operational details (Correct answer)
- Only share with law enforcement and senior administrators
- Post the complete response plan publicly online
Correct answer: Share general protocols with all stakeholders while protecting sensitive operational details
Sharing general protocols builds awareness and confidence while protecting specific tactical details that could be exploited by bad actors.
Question 4: Under the Clery Act, what must U.S. colleges and universities do related to active threat preparedness?
- Certify in ALICE training annually
- Publish emergency response procedures and conduct at least one emergency drill per year (Correct answer)
- Hire at least one ALICE-certified instructor per campus
- Submit ALICE training records to the Department of Education quarterly
Correct answer: Publish emergency response procedures and conduct at least one emergency drill per year
The Clery Act requires institutions to publish emergency procedures and conduct annual drills, which ALICE training can support.
Question 5: Why is it important for organizations to obtain legal counsel review before finalizing their ALICE-based policies?
- ALICE Training Institute requires it for certification renewal
- Laws and liability standards vary by state and context, so legal review ensures the policy is compliant and defensible (Correct answer)
- Legal counsel must approve all emergency protocols under federal law
- It is only necessary for private institutions, not public schools
Correct answer: Laws and liability standards vary by state and context, so legal review ensures the policy is compliant and defensible
State statutes, case law, and institutional policies differ, making legal review essential to tailor ALICE protocols appropriately.
Question 6: What is the significance of a 'good-faith effort' standard in the context of ALICE implementation?
- It means organizations can skip documentation if they intend to train eventually
- Courts often evaluate whether institutions made reasonable, good-faith efforts to protect people when assessing liability (Correct answer)
- Good faith eliminates all legal liability for injuries during drills
- It only applies to law enforcement agencies, not schools or businesses
Correct answer: Courts often evaluate whether institutions made reasonable, good-faith efforts to protect people when assessing liability
Demonstrating a good-faith, reasonable effort to prepare—such as through ALICE training—is a key factor courts weigh when evaluating institutional liability.
ALICE ALICE Legal and Policy Framework 2
How should an organization document ALICE training to support legal defensibility?