School Resource Officers

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that the criminal justice system has taken a direct role in juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention approaches within schools in the form of school resource officers (SROs). The paper describes an approach taken by a Southeastern US county that involves apprehending and transporting students found absent from school without approved leave, to a Truancy Unit, an experience designed to intimidate students. The writer asserts that as a truant student on occasion, he has never linked a lack of interest in study, class, or lectures, to any interest in committing crime. The writer further discusses the many obstacles SROs face in establishing an effective role within schools and contends that administrators must instead introduce programs that are transparent in their agenda, are targeted at supporting and advocating for youth and social conditions and that provide disciplinary methods that are appropriate to create change.

From the Paper:

"The criminal justice system has taken a direct role in prevention and intervention approaches within schools, previously considered the domain of social service and community-based juvenile justice agencies. This means the direct involvement of sheriffs' deputies and officers in enforcing acts of truancy, and other behaviors, considered by them, to be linked to crime. School resource officers (SROs) in high schools are nothing new. Twenty years ago, SROs provided support and education to students and their families in a non-intrusive manner. However, the methods and attitudes of SROs and the relationships that exist between SROs and school personnel are changing significantly (Bazemore, Stinchcomb, & Leip, 2004). Their presence inside the school is becoming increasing vigilant and is eroding the authority of educators and school administrators."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bazemore, G., Stinchcomb, J. B., & Leip, L. A. (2004). Scared smart or bored straight: Testingdeterrence logic in a evaluation of police-led truancy intervention. Justice Quarterly, 21(2), 269-300.
• Ginwright, S., & Cammarota, J. (2002). New terrain in youth development: The promise of a social justice approach. Social Justice, 29(4), p.82.
• Hurst, Y. G. (2007). Juvenile attitudes toward the police: an examination of rural youth.Criminal Justice Review, 32(2), 121-141.
• Jackson, A. (2002). Police-school resource officers' and students' perception of the police and offending. Policing, 25(3), 631-651.
• Levy, K. S. C. (2001). The relationship between adolescent attitudes towards authority, self-concept, and delinquency. Adolescence, 36(142), 333-347.

More papers on School Resource Officers:

• Argumentative Essay # 148066 : "Resource Officers: How to Help Make Resource Officers a Deterrent to School Violence"
• Term Paper # 150133 : "Resources Officers in Suburban Schools"
• Comparison Essay # 32206 : "School Safety Programs"

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