School Resource Officers and Student Arrests on School Campuses: An Examination of their Presence and Activities

Abstract

The utilization of school resource officers (SROs) is a nationwide topic of interest. The intent for the initial implementation of SRO presence on school campuses was to protect the students from potential outside harm and promote better interactions between students and police, improving overall school safety. Existing literature has shown increased disciplinary actions for students, with disproportionality among minority students. The current study examined the presence of SROs and their reactive and proactive activities about reports of student arrests on campus. Results showed that SROs are more prevalent in schools with larger student enrollment and higher grade levels. Additionally, the types of SRO activities (i.e., proactive and reactive activities) did not predict student arrests. The findings are discussed for practical implications and future research studies.