NCJ Number
191960
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 28 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 166-174
Date Published
October 2001
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the small-town School Resource Officer, and how and when such a position can be beneficial.
Abstract
The article examines the question of whether School Resource Officers (SROs) can be as beneficial to small towns as they are to larger cities. Many small towns have experienced rapid population growth over the last decade, which contributes to school overcrowding, a risk factor for violence in schools. When considering setting up an SRO program as a preventive measure, the first consideration is funding, for both immediate and long-term costs. The next most common issue regarding SROs is their effect on students, administrators, and the community. The program teaches students that police officers are not to be feared or distrusted, and can also teach officers that not all juveniles are troublemakers. The article suggests that a community developing an SRO program begin by projecting the community's growth rate. Next, determine how community schools are perceived by citizens, school staff, students, and police officers, and how an SRO program might influence those perceptions. Finally, communities should research funding opportunities and alternative programs should the SRO be too expensive. Figure