Approximately half of public K-12 schools have an armed police officer, commonly known as a School Resource Officer (SRO), stationed on campus. But evidence shows that school-based police do not reduce gun-related or other violence and instead fuel suspensions, expulsions, and arrests, and increase potential involvement with the criminal legal system. This school-to-prison pipeline disproportionately impacts disabled students and students who are Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and/or LGBTQ+.
Alternative public health strategies, such as social-emotional learning, counselors, school diversion measures, and restorative justice initiatives, can foster young people’s development and contribute to a welcoming school climate.