© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Report: More officers lead to more arrests of students of color

A local children’s advocacy group has found that placing more officers in schools actually has a negative effect on certain students.
Watchara Phomicinda
/
MediaNews Group / The Press-Enterprise via Getty Images
A local children’s advocacy group has found that placing more officers in schools actually has a negative effect on certain students.

Schools in Connecticut and across the country have been installing extra police, known as school resource officers, in response to threats of violence. A local children’s advocacy group has found that placing more officers in schools actually has a negative effect on certain students.

Students of color are disproportionately impacted by the presence of police officers in Connecticut schools, according to a report released on Wednesday by the New Haven advocacy group Connecticut Voices for Children.

“We hear the stories on the news about violent incidents happening in schools, and people are generally scared [of] that. They want safer schools and the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘well, we should have a police officer in the school,’” said Samaila Adelaiye, a co-author of the report. “However, when we did our analysis, we didn’t find any evidence that suggests that the presence of SROs [school resource officers] made schools safer.

The report that found students in schools with resource officers were at least three times more likely to be arrested than students in schools that don’t have them.

Also, the percentage of Black students arrested is 17 times higher in schools with officers and 10 times higher for Latino and Latina students, according to the report.

Connecticut Voices for Children recommends that local schools stop hiring school resource officers and instead hire more behavioral health counselors.

Frankie Graziano is the host of 'The Wheelhouse,' focusing on how local and national politics impact the people of Connecticut.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.