Students Can Earn Cash, Prizes For Informing Schools About Dangerous Behavior

Because school shootings such as the Red Lake massacre, schools have created programs to reduce the risk of school violence by offering cash and other prizes to students with information on of any dangerous (or potentially dangerous) activity that is found within the school.

These "snitch programs," as the critics call it, urge kids to report classmates who carry guns, drugs or alcohol, commit vandalism or otherwise break school rules, said CNN.com. Prizes include pizza, lovely parking spots, and, of course, cold hard cash. This month, for example, Houston County, Georgia, has began offering rewards of up to $100 for reporting relatively minor crimes-vandalism or theft-and $500 for information about a crime, or plans for a crime, involving a gun.

Those against the programs argue that they are a "knee-jerk reaction" to past school shootings and can create a massive environment of distrust among students.

However County superintendent James Kinchen said:

"For kids of that age, it's hard for them to tell on their peers. This gives them an opportunity to step up if they know something that will help us make an arrest."