NCJ Number
47201
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 48-54
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE PROS AND CONS OF BEAT POLICEMEN, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, AND THE PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD AS MEANS OF COMBATING CRIME IN SCHOOLS ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
POLICE OFFICERS WORKING SCHOOLS AS THEY WOULD ANY OTHER BEAT IS CONSIDERED BY MOST EDUCATORS AS A POOR APPROACH TO BUILDING A CONSTRUCTIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. POTENTIAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE VIOLATIONS OF STUDENTS' CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE RAISED. SHOULD STUDENT BEHAVIOR DEGENERATE TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THIS TYPE OF POLICE PRESENCE IS REQUIRED, CLEAR GUIDELINES FOR POLICE OPERATIONS AGREED UPON BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND POLICE ARE THOUGHT TO BE NECESSARY BY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SUCH SITUATIONS. WHILE MANY SCHOOLS CALL IN POLICE AS NEEDED, ONLY DETROIT, (MICH.) SAN DIEGO (CALIF.), ATLANTA (GA.), AND CHICAGO (ILL.) HAVE ELECTED TO PUT IN FULL-TIME OFFICERS TO PATROL THE HALLS. THESE CITIES FIND THAT WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME THE POLICE PRESENCE IS ACCEPTED AND EVEN WELCOMED BY FACULTY AND STUDENTS. BEGUN IN FLINT, MICHIGAN IN 1958, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM USES ITS PERSONNEL TO PREVENT CRIME BY TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIORAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATING TO THEM MORE AS A COUNSELOR THAN AN AUTHORITATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SCHOOL OFFICIALS IN MOST CITIES USING THIS PROGRAM THINK IT WORTHWHILE, ALTHOUGH SOME OBSERVERS CALL IT INADEQUATE TO MEET SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD STUDENT BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. CONCERNING PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS FOR SCHOOLS, THEY COST LESS THAN REGULAR POLICE SERVICES, BUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED SUFFER FROM POOR TRAINING AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH JUVENILES. MANY OBSERVERS SUGGEST THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCHOOLS OFFER PARAPOLICE PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROSPECTIVE SCHOOL OFFICERS. (RCB)