In the journal Article “Policing School Strategies: A review of the Evaluating Evidence” the author explains how the effects of having a school resource officer on school grounds can be more effective than not having one present at all (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012). Schools experience a wide range of crime and disorder and the policing school strategies are only there to help reduce criminal activity and encourage the youth. Having a sound learning environment for the students and staff you can increase student learning and more staff involvement. The journal article stresses how there has been no outside research evaluations outside of the police led prevention programs such as D.A.R.E. According to the US Department of Education and Justice, approximately 86 percent of public schools reported at least one violent crime, theft, or other crime during the academic school year 2005- 2006 (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012).
The purpose of this study was to find a systematic search to identify experimental and quasi- experimental evaluations that asses the effectiveness of non-educational policing strategies and programs in schools. School based interventions by police departments have a long history with students and staff. According to the journal article given the crime and disorder at schools in the U.S and in other nations, it is not a surprise that police would devote resources towards partnering with educators to develop strategies to combat it (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012). The study took place in or around K-12 schools in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The need for school resource officers and programs on school grounds increased heavily following several high profile shootings. Educators and communities are more open to police intervention because of the detrimental effects of gangs, drugs, bullying, the presence of weapons, and other crime and disorder problems that can have a strong effect on school culture and students learning.
The study method that was used in the research was data collections and analysis. According to the research only those impact studies that use experimental or quasi experimental design, had at least one outcome measure of school crime or disorder, and were available through December 2009 were eligible (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012). The researchers also used electronic searches that were used to identify published and unpublished evaluation reports. The studies were included if there was a significant amount of police presence in the intervention process. The programs and interventions that the school resource officers provide are assumed to be beneficial and helpful to the students and staff who agree to have police on the property.
Some interesting research finding that was found in the journal article “Policing schools strategies: A review of the Evaluating Evidence” was many interventions and programs that had be set out across the United States. In 2008 there was the North Carolina School Resource Officer (SRO) program that was set into motion to help maintain safe school grounds. The study analyzed state wide data from 1995-2000 to test the impact of SRO’s in North Carolina Public Schools (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012). School resource officer programs are designed to make a positive relationship between police officers and students. The main element for having such programs is to reduce crimes in and around schools. Another interesting finding that I found in the research was a study that took place in 2007. The New York police Impact Schools Initiative was a study that was done through partnership with the Mayor’s office and the New York City Public Schools. This programs was designed to find the most dangerous schools. In 2004 twelve schools were identified, by the end of 2004 seventeen schools were targeted for the research. Studies show that with the presence of school resource officer’s crime and violence was reduced (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & Fronius, 2012).
Future research about school resource officers should be an option. You can never research a subject to much or too little and the amount of research that is needed for school resource officer and programs is much needed in order to maximize on crime and violent behaviors in grade schools K-12. There should always be research done especially when it deals with your child and the amount of crime and violence that they are exposed to while in grades K-12. Safety is always the number one rule when dealing with public schools.
By: Kayla Powell