School violence: The effectiveness of a school resource officer program in a southern city

Abstract

The safety of America’s school children is constantly being threatened by violence, drugs, alcohol, gang-related activities, and other social ills. It is becoming increasingly difficult for school administrators across the United States to provide youth with a safe learning environment. With the nation’s youth becoming increasingly exposed to violence in schools, it is important for school officials, community leaders, and community service workers to acknowledge and address school disciplinary problems. The School Resource Officer Program has been developed to help school officials cope with the growing incidence of school violence and to make the school environment safe and conducive to enriched learning. This study was designed to evaluate a School Resource Officer Program in a southern city and its impact on school violence and school disciplinary problems. The data revealed that the placement of police officers in city schools has a positive effect on school violence and disciplinary infractions. The total number of intermediate and major offenses in high schools and middle schools decreased from 3,267 in 1994–95 (before the School Resource Officers were permanently assigned to city schools) to 2,710 in 1995–96 (after the School Resource Officers were permanently assigned to city schools).