2023
Although the nation’s first school policing program was established in the 1950s, officer-led school-based prevention programs, federal legislation, and high-casualty school shootings have contributed to a proliferation of officers in schools over the last few decades. It is widely recognized that school officers take on a unique role compared to their community-based colleagues, and having school officers on campus who are not properly trained may lead to negative impacts for students and schools. The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) serves as the nation’s largest provider of training for school officers. Although training options exist, little is known about the quality or outcomes associated with school officer training. NIJ funded the JPRC to partner with NASRO to conduct the first national evaluation of this training.