Classroom Cops, What do the Students Think?: A Case Study of Student Perceptions of School Police and Security Officers Conducted in an Hispanic Community

• NCJ Number: 213925
• Journal: International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2005 Pages: 264-285
• Author(s): Ben Brown; Wm. Reed Benedict
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This paper presents the results of a survey of predominantly Hispanic students on student perceptions of school police and school security officers.

Abstract

Overall, the data shows that the students view the school police and security officers favorably and like having the officers in the schools. Although the findings were positive, there is clearly a great deal more research needed to be done. When viewed as a whole, data indicate that the complexities of attitudes toward the school security and police officials by students do not slowly develop over time. Juveniles’ perceptions of the police are as complex as adults’ perceptions of the police. Data also indicate that both well-acculturated and less-acculturated Hispanic youths view legal authorities favorably which, given the history of tensions between racial/ethnic minorities and the police in the United States, is a positive finding. Data were obtained from surveys administered to a sample of 230 predominantly Hispanic students residing in a predominantly Hispanic community in Brownsville, TX. Tables and references