A Closer Examination of Officer-Student Encounters in the School Setting

• In Event: Law Enforcement Officers in Schools

Abstract

With the increasing number of law enforcement officers working in schools across the nation, and the roles of these officers expanding, a deeper understanding of the daily interactions between officers and students is needed. The purpose of this study was therefore to collect detailed data on officer encounters with students in an effort to better understand the types of situations officers handle in the school as well as how they are handled. Specifically, data was collected by officers in ten school districts on their encounters with students including when and where encounters took place, how and why they were initiated, and how they were resolved. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of both practice and future research.

Author

• Jospeh Michael McKenna, Texas State University - Texas School Safety Center