Police-school intervention effects on students' attitudes: A case study

Abstract

This is a study of the school resource officer program in Ames, IA. The program consists of one police officer that services students in grades seven through twelve. Students were sampled (n=128) by using a self-administered questionnaire given in their classrooms. They responded to questions asking them about their attitudes towards the school resource officer and the police in general. There were several main findings of the study. First, contact with the school resource officer resulted in students holding significantly more positive attitudes towards the officer compared to students who did not have contact with him. Secondly, students who had contact with the school resource officer had significantly more trust for that officer and the police in general compared to students without contact. Thirdly, white students had significantly more positive attitudes towards officer and the police in general compared to non-white students. Fourth, female students held significantly more positive attitudes towards the officer and police in general compared to male students. In addition, students rated their school resource officer more favorably than the police in general.