Residents react to the introduction of amnesty boxes in Beaufort Co. schools

BEAUFORT COUNTY, NC (WITN) – After an East Carolina sheriff’s recent comments to a local newspaper about his new amnesty opportunity program — some are questioning its safety.

Beaufort’s sheriff hopes to gain students’ trust by using special contraband containers — but it’s causing some controversy.

In a Wednesday edition of the Washington Daily News, Sheriff Scott Hammonds shared details about his office’s amnesty program in Beaufort County schools — where students can anonymously post items that are not allowed on campus — without risk of documents or punishments.

Coralie Ham says that as a parent, the movement can invite bringing guns to a campus where there is a zero-tolerance policy.

“Yeah, I think so, especially if they hype it up and make it seem like such a great thing, they’d want to put something in the box,” says Ham.

The paper reports that there will be what are called amnesty opportunity boxes in schools for items such as vapes, drugs and alcohol, but also weapons such as guns and knives.

Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Matthew Cheeseman says immediate action will be taken if the rule is not followed.

“If a student comes on campus with a gun, automatic referral to law enforcement and 365-day suspension, I mean that’s a zero-tolerance policy,” Cheeseman says.

We wanted to talk to Sheriff Hammonds about the amnesty boxes, but he wasn’t able to talk to us on camera and instead answered a few questions via text.

He says he does not support any tolerance for guns on campus or on school buses, but that the intent of the amnesty box is to receive prohibited items.

WITN asked Sheriff Hammonds if this means the boxes will accept guns without penalty and he responded that possession of firearms is a violation of the law and students who possess a gun will be dealt with according to the law.

Ham says parents need to face reality and be proactive with their children.

“They go through their bags, making sure there’s nothing in them that isn’t in them before they even leave for school,” says Ham.

Cheeseman says in an ongoing effort for school safety, metal detectors will be installed at some point this school year.

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