NCJ Number
167998
Journal
Telemasp Bulletin Volume: 2 Issue: 7 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1995
Length
7 pages
Annotation
School Resource Officer (SRO) programs conducted in Texas schools are described, based on a survey of 21 Texas police agencies with these programs.
Abstract
An SRO program is both an intervention and prevention program. These police officers are mainly considered to be educators and role models who provide safety, counseling, and crime prevention and awareness programs to students. Many police agencies have resource officers at each elementary, middle, and high school level. One officer may be assigned to one or several schools. Activities include classroom instruction, casework, non-casework counseling, and preventive law enforcement activities. About half the participants in the survey indicated that a potential problem of SRO programs is the faculty and administration's lack of understanding of the officer's role. Lack of cooperation from the school administration can also be a problem. However, most participants stated that teachers and principals were receptive and cooperative. Nineteen of the 21 agencies provide training for the resource officers. Figures, description of the program of the Arlington Police Department, and 7 references