Bill Overview
Title: School Resource Officer Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and otherwise revises the program. Specifically, the bill revises the COPS program by restoring authority to make COPS grants for hiring and rehiring additional career law enforcement officers, allowing the federal cost share to be 75% for the duration of such grants, and specifying that at least 30% of the amount made available for such grants must be used for school resource officers.
Sponsors: Rep. Jacobs, Chris [R-NY-27]
Target Audience
Population: Students, school staff, and associated communities in the United States
Estimated Size: 20000000
- School resource officers (SROs) will be directly impacted as there will be more funds available for hiring and maintaining such positions.
- Students and school staff will be indirectly affected as schools might experience changes in safety protocols and interactions with law enforcement due to increased officer presence.
- Parents and guardians may be impacted by the perceived safety changes in schools where their children are enrolled.
- Community members in districts with COPS funding may experience changes in community policing initiatives, especially those related to youth and school safety.
Reasoning
- This policy will primarily affect schools with COPS funding and the community around them, though the overall number of individuals initially impacted will be a subset of the approximately 50 million students due to budget limitations.
- Students, school staff, parents, and members of law enforcement will be both directly and indirectly influenced based on the presence and actions of school resource officers (SROs).
- Given the budget limitations, not all schools will receive funding initially. The selection of schools will likely depend on their current security needs and prior engagement with the COPS program.
- The federal cost share incentivizes local cooperation to maintain or increase law enforcement presence with a focus on schools, impacting the community and law enforcement relationship.
- SROs in rural or underfunded areas may see higher impacts due to the relative increase in resources from federal funding.
Simulated Interviews
High School Principal (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I welcome the additional funding for SROs but am concerned about maintaining a balanced approach to school safety.
- Our school's relationship with local law enforcement has been mostly positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Middle School Teacher (Rural Wyoming)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing SRO presence could provide a sense of security but it must be complemented by education and community trust initiatives.
- Our school could greatly benefit from such programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Extra SROs make me feel safer on campus, but I worry about their role and influence on school culture.
- I think resources should also be directed towards mental health support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Police Officer (Austin, TX)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy supports our efforts and allows us to engage more with schools and students.
- I am concerned about the potential for increased confrontation if not handled with care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School Counselor (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope increased funding for SROs goes hand in hand with training on interacting with diverse student populations.
- There's a need for clarity on how SRO roles will align with counseling services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Parent (Rural Alabama)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having SROs could reassure parents about safety, but schools also need other supports like education and community programs.
- I'm skeptical about the sustainability of such a program in rural areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Community Activist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about increasing SRO presence without addressing underlying issues like systemic bias and lack of student support resources.
- It's crucial to ensure SRO roles don't disproportionately affect minority students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Law Enforcement Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy renewal is much needed and will help reinforce the presence of trained officers in schools.
- Proper training and community engagement are key components that must accompany this funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Recent High School Graduate (Portland, OR)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having SROs never really made me feel safer, it just changed the atmosphere at school.
- I believe schools need more funding for counselors and educational opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School District Security Coordinator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the potential for better coordination of security resources, but caution against relying solely on law enforcement for school safety.
- Funds must cover training and integration with broader educational goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Year 2: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Year 3: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Year 5: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $475000000, High: $525000000)
Key Considerations
- The sustainability of funding post-2026 if federal grants are not reauthorized or increased could affect ongoing employment for these positions.
- The impact of COPS grants on reducing criminal activities in schools and subsequent cost savings in the judicial system is hard to quantify.
- Coordination between local, state, and federal agencies in deploying officers effectively might influence the overall success of the program.