Poster #99 - Explanation for The Unethical Behavior of School Resource Officers

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Do school policies and procedures permit School Resource Officers’ unethical actions? Since the 1990s, School Resource Officers (SROs) have been pushed and promoted as solutions for school safety. However, alongside their implementation, has been a growth in problematic behaviors (e.g., excessive force) and outcomes (e.g., racial disparities in student discipline). While some argue these problems are the effects of individual officers’ prejudice, others suggest these are systemic – effects of school policies and procedures criminalizing students in a school-to-prison pipeline. Which best explains the causes of SRO’s unethical conduct? In a systematic review of 113 published research articles between 1999-2025, I analyzed court cases, student testimony, interviews of SROs, and policies to explore which better explain SRO conduct: prejudice or policies. I found policies, such as zero tolerance policies allowed for harsher punishments and greater criminalization of students, have a greater effect on SRO behavior than do individual officers’ attitudes. However, I also found, SRO prejudice is a compounding factor, often contributing to punitive conduct, such as excessive force. I conclude this research raises significant questions about the need, effectiveness, and effects of SROs.

Author

• Ray June Leath, Northwest Missouri State University