Exposure to School Resource Officers and School Staff Attitudes about Police in Schools

• In Event: Using Experimental Methods to Explore Criminological Topics

Abstract

Ensuring the safety and security of students and school personnel remains a national priority in the United States. The presence of school resource officers (SROs) in K-12 public schools has increased in recent years. The current study assesses school staff’s attitudes towards school resource officers on campus using data from a cluster randomized control trial as part of a Comprehensive School Safety Initiative to promote school safety in a Midwestern county. We assess survey responses from teachers, staff, and administrators (n=2,078) across three occasions (Fall 2018, Spring 2019, and Fall 2019). Results suggest a positive treatment effect of exposure to SROs on school staff attitudes about their presence in schools. In particular, there were statistically significant improvements both after 1 year and 2 years post program implementation on attitudes about the presence of school resource officers on campus. Findings of the current study provide insight into school personnel attitudes on the presence of SROs on campus.

Authors

• Kait Campbell, Michigan State University

• Chris Melde, Michigan State University