NCJ Number
190036
Date Published
2000
Length
197 pages
Annotation
This manual details the role, responsibilities, tasks, and skills required of school resource officers (SRO's) in Virginia.
Abstract
The first section presents the role of the SRO as an element of community policing in the school context. It compares community policing with traditional policing, presents the 10 principles of community policing, and outlines the outcomes of effective community policing in the schools. The second section presents steps in building effective law enforcement/school partnerships. SRO program goals and objectives are indicated to be those of reducing crime and fostering positive relationships between the SRO and students. Some examples of program implementation goals are the creation of a pilot SRO program that provides one full-time officer in a middle or high school; the development of a way to identify high-risk or criminal behavior early in or around school property; and the provision of timely, pertinent crime information to school personnel. The third section of this manual describes the fundamental roles and responsibilities of the SRO. These are to act as a law enforcement officer, a law-related educator, a community liaison, and a role model. The tasks of these various roles are profiled. The remaining four sections provide detailed information to the SRO on interacting with school personnel, working with adolescents, devising and implementing school security and safety measures, and evaluating the SRO program. A list of 19 annotated resources, a model SRO agreement, and a list of youth development organizations in Virginia