NCJ Number
212185
Date Published
2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the findings of the national evaluation of the Safer School Partnerships (SSP) program in England and Wales, which places police officers in schools.
Abstract
The SSP, which was introduced in 2002, aims to reduce delinquent and antisocial behavior among secondary-school youth by addressing school-related precipitating factors, notably truancy, bullying, and student suspensions. Although SSP programs differ in their features, all involve the placement of a police officer in a secondary school to work with school staff and students in developing a safe school environment. The evaluation measured the degree to which the program has achieved its objectives by matching 15 schools with an SSP intervention with 15 similar schools without an SSP program. A before-and-after matched pair comparison was made based on offending statistics; students' self-reported incidences of committing, fearing, or being the victims of crime; crime data from the Youth Offending Team, school, and the police; and school statistics an student absences, suspensions, and academic performance. Although student victimization rates improved in SSP schools, data on offending at school were weak. SSP schools were found to have made significant progress in developing a cooperative relationship with police; however, there needs to be greater clarity about the various roles that school staff and school-based police officers have in their cooperative approach to school safety. Truancy rates have been reduced in SSP schools, and there is evidence that SSP schools are devoting more attention to vulnerable students. Academic performance has also improved. Evaluation recommendations pertain to performance monitoring and management; guidance for the development of a suitable SSP structure; improved data collection and analysis; and the initiation of student self-report surveys on victimization and offending.