Date

12-17-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The increased use of school safety measures and Zero tolerance policies in the United States education system has created a disconnect between perceived and actual school safety. While legislators, school administrators, and the public fuel the creation of school safety guidelines, the voice of the student population these guidelines impact may have been lost. The purpose of this study was to investigate student perceptions of crime, and the role of School Resource Officers (SROs) based on their high school experience. This project was conducted to help understand the factors that contribute to student perceptions and how school security measures may be helping or harming students. A survey was administered to courses that were in person, had enrollment of 5 students or more, and excluded graduate or independent studies occurring during the summer session I of 2023. This study found that school connectedness and gender were significant factors in student perception of safety, school security had no relationship to student’s fear of crime, and variables such as race, gender, and neighborhood crime were not significant influential factors on student attitude toward SRO. As a result, several policy implications can be suggested.

Department

Criminal Justice

Thesis Comittee

Dr. Jennifer Hartsfield, Thesis Advisor
Dr. Michael DeValve, Committee Member
Dr. Michael King, Committee Member

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