Dynamic Decision-Making: Exploring How School Resource Officers Come to Be Involved in Responding to Student Misbehavior

This study presents descriptive analysis of survey data collected in a single state from school resource officers (SROs; n = 96) and school administrators (n = 86). Respondents reported on the perceived frequency of SRO involvement in student misbehavior, as well as the frequency in which SROs were expected to respond in a law enforcement or mentorship capacity. We find that although SROs are often expected to act as mentors, they are sometimes asked to respond to student misbehavior in a law enforcement capacity. Even when the SRO does not believe a legal response is warranted, they report sometimes responding in a law enforcement capacity at the request of school personnel. These findings underscore the need for schoolwide training on SROs’ legal authority, as well as the development of processes for addressing disagreements between SROs and school actors about when and how SROs should respond to student misbehavior.