Policy to Practice: A Look at National and State Implementation of School Resource Officer Programs

Abstract

In response to questions related to school safety, in the 1990s the school resource officer (SRO) program gained prominence as an effective intervention strategy. Despite the widespread utilization of SROs in America's public schools, there exists a lack of meaningful research related to practices and effectiveness of SRO programs. A school resource officer is a sworn police officer assigned to a school or a group of schools during the school year. The SRO presence in a school is intended to increase school safety for students, staff, and community members. However, little is actually known about the SRO program and its ability to increase school safety. SRO assignment patterns are documented in this study along with the use of memorandums of understandings (MOU), or other intergovernmental agency agreements, and the role of the MOU in promoting a safe learning environment. School officials interested in increasing school safety through the use of the SRO program are encouraged to develop meaningful MOUs that establish clear guidelines related to the conduct of the sworn police officer in the school building.