In 1975, only 1% of public schools had their own police officers. Today, 44% do. One of the main reasons for this increase is the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994which led to the creation of federal community policing to oversee funding for police recruitment in schools. Another reason is the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999. From the federal government to individual districts, the idea that schools need police officers to keep children safe is widespread.

However, research shows that police officers in schools does not always prevent violenceincluding school shootings. In fact, their presence can harm students.

Here are five reasons why police in schools, also known as school resource officers, make students less safe at school:

1. They don’t solve fundamental problems

State legislators who advocate for police in schools believe that hardening of schools – increase police presence, add metal detectors, require clear backpacks and mandate active shooter safety drills – students will be safer from school shootings.

Academic research supports a different strategy. Most school shooters are known to administrators before committing an attack. Many of these students struggle to make friends, face challenges in their home lives, and have multiple behavioral and mental health needs that have not been met.

School police cannot solve societal problems. Instead, researchers and advocates of the policy recommend that districts invest in people who are better equipped to solve these problemssuch as social workers and therapists.

2. Their role is not well defined

The role of school police officers, as well as their training, varies from school to school. This means that some may have a more positive impact on students than others.

Research shows that school resource officers are effective at detecting drug activity on campus and addressing violent crime linked to gang activity in schools. But agents do not reduce cases of bullying and minor delinquency such as vandalism and schoolyard fights.

School police officers play a variety of roles on campus, but research shows they are the most effective to help students when they focus on specific types of crimes occurring at school or to build relationships with students known to have committed them. When they focus on punishment and disciplinetheir effectiveness decreases.

3. They do not increase students’ feeling of security

Neither do most students. don’t realize their school has a school resource officer or you don’t mind that there is one. In fact, most students say they like their school’s officer.

However, students report that the presence of school resource officers does not make them more positive about safety and school climate. Students report feeling safe at the start of the year with officers in the building, but feel less safe throughout the year. The more contact students have with an agent, for whatever reason, more disconnected they begin to feel. The researchers suggest that this could be because they begin to fear that their own behavior could result in harsh sanctions.

This can lead to other negative consequences, such as increased absenteeism, failure to obtain a diploma And delinquency outside of school.

Students who frequently encounter school police may begin to develop a subconscious feeling that their school is unsafe, especially if their meetings were related to discipline. Even students who do not interact directly with police officers, but see other students being arrested, may begin to feel fear of also being arrested for minor disturbances.

4. They contribute to the “school-to-prison pipeline”

Research shows that the presence of school police increases the probability that a school will report common forms of student misbehavior, such as cafeteria fights and vandalism, to law enforcement – ​​thereby contributing to what is known as “school-to-prison pipeline» by criminalizing such behavior. Research shows that the presence of school police increases the probability that a school will report common forms of student misbehavior, such as cafeteria fights and vandalism, to law enforcement – ​​thereby contributing to what is known as “school-to-prison pipeline» by criminalizing such behavior.

For example, schools that use campus police for law enforcement and other duties, such as mentoring, are 118% more likely to record property crimes than schools without police. Schools that use officers primarily for student discipline and crime response report 91% more non-serious crimes, property crimes and public disorder cases to the police than similar schools that do not use school police.

Supporters of school police officers may argue that reporting crimes keeps students safe. However, for some students, the consequences can be devastating and lifelong. For example, in one study, North Carolina Colleges Schools with police on campus had 38% fewer violent crimes than schools without police. But they were also more likely to respond to student misbehavior with harsher disciplinary practices such as suspension from school, transfers to alternative learning environments, expulsions, and referrals to the police. Studies often reveal that these exclusionary reactions are mainly experienced by Black and Hispanic students.

5. They sometimes infringe on the rights of students

The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that studentslose their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the school gate.

However, research clearly shows the threats school police officers can pose to students’ rights. These include invasion of privacy, illegal searches and seizures and violations of the rights of students with disabilities and special education students.

Schools that plan to retain their police officers can follow these guidelines to ensure they are more effective in actually helping students:

As schools across the country continue to grapple with how to keep students safe, a close look at the research shows that school police officers may not be the answer.

This article is republished from The conversation under Creative Commons license. Read the original article.