The Role of School Resource Police Officers in Preventing and Responding to Bullying Incidents

• In Event: Poster Session 6
  In Poster Session: Understanding Youth Experiences Through School-Based Research

Abstract

The number of police officers, School Resource Officers (SROs), is increasing on school campuses to assist in preventing school violence, and in particular bullying. This mixed methods study was conducted to compare the knowledge and perceptions of SROs (N = 184) hired by independent school districts (ISD SROs) and those contracted from law enforcement agencies (CSROs) about their knowledge and perceptions about bullying interventions. By comparison, ISD SROs were more aware than CSROs about school bullying plans, the need for social skills training, were more likely to enforce existing school policies regarding bullying intervention strategies, and use more conflict resolution strategies. Additionally, ISD SROs were less likely to use punitive law enforcement strategies than were CSROs.

Authors

• Rebecca A. Robles-Pina, Sam Houston State University

• Magdalena Denham, Sam Houston State University