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Do Police Make Schools Safer? - Coggle Diagram
Do Police Make Schools Safer?
Roles of Police
Ideally, armed officers in schools aid in the prevention of fights, drug abuse, and gun related violence.
Police are often politically powerful resulting in greater resistance to reduce funding.
Greater financial resources have been dedicated to maintaining police contracts than ensuring a counselor or mental health expert was present and available to students.
Loss of funding due to the pandemic further strains resources and many districts would rather invest money in hiring mental health experts than placing more money into training officers to handle mental health crisis.
Some districts suggest that increased training in officers would enable them to efficiently handle mental health and drug related situations
When research was conducted in 2013 there was very little rigorous research defining the relationship between crime rates and the presence of police in schools.
The widespread presence of police in schools was not popular until the 1990s after which concern for juvenile delinquency led to increased funding for military grade weapons and metal detectors.
What defines Safety?
"School safety is defined as schools and school-related activities where students are safe from violence, bullying and harassment, and the influence of substance use."
School Districts are choosing to end contracts with police forces due to the idea that armed officers pose a greater threat and prevent students from feeling secure
“Don’t get too comfortable, regardless of whether this school is your second home. We have you on watch. We are able to take legal or even physical action against you.” Nadia Powell, 17. A student discussing the attitude officers have toward black students in a California high school.
When Protesting gun violence through school walkouts, officers were recorded physically preventing students from leaving school property or participating in verbal conflict with protesters.
There is a direct relationship between police officers in schools and disproportionate discipline and arrest rates for students of color.
Following the murder of George Floyd many school districts rapidly began the process of change, especially in reevaluating the presence of police in schools.
Increasing Violence in Schools
Police violence in schools has escalated dramatically in recent years.
In Orange County, Florida an officer was filmed using excessive forces by grabbing a student and yanking her by hair hair during an arrest following a fight.
Statistically, schools shootings such as Columbine and Parkland are relatively rare and crimes on school grounds have relatively declined in recent years.
Police are more prevalent in predominantly black and hispanic schools.
In Vance County North Carolina an officer was terminated after repeatedly slamming a child on the ground.