Updated April 24, 2018
Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives
The February 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman
officers for entry-level positions (see also CRS Report
Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, and the March 20,
RL33308, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS):
2018, shooting at Great Mills High School in Great Mills,
In Brief). COPS hiring grants can be used to hire officers to
MD, has generated renewed interest in federal government
serve as SROs. Applicants who want to hire SROs are
efforts to support school safety. This In Focus provides an
required to submit a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
overview of Department of Justice (DOJ) programs for
between the law enforcement agency and the partner school
improving school safety, including grants for school
that outlines the program’s purpose, partner roles and
resource officers (SROs) and physical security (e.g., metal
responsibilities, requirements for information sharing, and
detectors and cameras).
how an SRO will be supervised. The COPS Office also
requires SROs hired with grant funds to attend a regional
Grant Programs for School Safety
training program. COPS hiring grants can cover up to 75%
DOJ has two grant programs—Community Oriented
of the salaries and fringe benefits of full-time entry-level
Policing Services (COPS) hiring and the Edward Byrne
officers for a three-year grant period. Hiring grants do not
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) programs—that
cover more than $125,000 in salary and benefits per officer
can help state, local, and tribal governments start school
over the three-year grant period.
resource officer (SRO) programs. Congress also recently
reauthorized the Secure Our Schools (SOS) program, which
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
is to provide funding for physical security measures in
(JAG) program is a formula grant that provides funding to
schools. Finally, until recently, Congress has provided
state, local, and tribal governments for a variety of state and
funding for school safety research through the
local criminal justice initiatives (see also). Grant recipients
Comprehensive School Safety Initiative.
can use their JAG funds for technical assistance, training,
personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and
criminal justice information systems for, among other
things, law enforcement programs.
What are “SROs”? There is no universal definition
of an SRO. The duties of SROs can vary from one
JAG’s broad program purpose areas are intended to give
community to the next. However, their activities can
states and local units of government flexibility in creating
be placed into three general categories: (1) safety
programs to address local needs. As such, grant recipients
expert and law enforcer, (2) problem solver and
could use their funding for school safety initiatives, but they
liaison to community resources, and (3) educator.
are not required to do so. According to the Bureau of
SROs can act as safety experts and law enforcers by
Justice Assistance (BJA), states can subaward JAG funds to
assuming primary responsibility for handling calls for
public or private schools as long as the intended program
service from the school, making arrests, issuing
falls within one of the eight JAG program areas. Because
citations on campus, taking actions against
JAG funds can be used for personnel related to law
unauthorized persons on school property, and
enforcement programs it appears likely that grantees could
responding to off-campus criminal activities that
use their funding to hire SROs. According to the Office of
involve students. They also serve as first responders in
Justice Programs, state and local governments can also
the event of critical incidents at the school. SROs can
subaward JAG funds to schools for physical security
help solve problems that are not necessarily crimes
measures as long as there is a criminal justice nexus and the
(e.g., bullying or disorderly behavior) but that can
program falls within one of JAG’s purpose areas.
contribute to a poor school climate and may lead to
criminal incidents. Problem-solving activities
conducted by SROs can include developing and
Security Measures in Schools
expanding crime prevention efforts and community
Congress recently reauthorized the SOS program through
justice initiatives for the school and its students. SROs
the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (Title V, Division
can also present courses on topics related to policing
S, P.L. 115-141). Under this program, grants can be
or responsible citizenship for students, faculty, and
awarded to state, local, and tribal governments for
parents.
evidence-based programs to improve security at schools
and on school grounds. Specifically, grants can be used for
training school personnel and students to prevent student
SRO-Related Grants
violence against others and self;
The COPS hiring program provides grants to state, local,
developing and operating anonymous reporting systems
and tribal governments with primary law enforcement
for threats of school violence, including mobile
responsibilities to hire new or former law enforcement
telephone applications, hotlines, and websites;
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives
developing and operating school threat assessment and
Assessing technology designed to increase school
intervention teams that may include coordination with
safety.
law enforcement agencies and school personnel and
specialized training for school officials in responding to
Enhancing data collection efforts related to school
mental health crises;
safety.
coordination with local law enforcement;
Convening experts, including school professionals and
researchers, to make research findings regarding school
training for local law enforcement officers to prevent
safety applicable to real world settings.
student violence against others and self;
Engaging in partnerships with other federal agencies to
placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting,
bring a multi-disciplinary approach to school safety
and other deterrent measures;
(e.g., education, law enforcement, health and mental
health, and criminal justice).
acquisition and installation of technology for expedited
notification of local law enforcement during an
Other DOJ Resources on School Safety
emergency; and
In addition to grant programs to support school safety
initiatives, DOJ has compiled resources that could be
any other measure that, in the determination of the BJA
helpful to policymakers who want to understand more about
or the COPS Office, may provide a significant
this issue, or school administrators and law enforcement
improvement in training, threat assessments and
professionals who want to explore ways to enhance the
reporting, violence prevention, and security.
safety of their local schools.
State, local, and tribal governments can use grant funds
For example, the COPS Office has a webpage that provides
awarded for the purposes outlined above for contracts or
background information on SROs, including fact sheets on
subgrants to local educational agencies, nonprofit
MOUs between schools and law enforcement agencies that
organizations, and units of local government or tribal
provide SROs and SRO training.
organizations. Grantees under this program are required to
provide a 25% match. Congress reauthorized the SOS
https://cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2687
program at $75 million for FY2018 and $100 million each
fiscal year from FY2019 to FY2028. The STOP School
DOJ’s Crime Solutions website provides information on
Violence Act stated that funding appropriated for the
evaluations of school safety programs and practices.
Comprehensive School Safety Initiative (see below) for
Evaluations can be sorted by those DOJ has rated as
FY2018 shall be used for the SOS program.
effective, those that are “promising,” and those that are
ineffective.
Funding for Research on School Safety
In the wake of the Newtown, CT, school shooting,
https://www.crimesolutions.gov/TopicDetails.aspx?ID=
Congress provided funding for a Comprehensive School
314
Safety Initiative (CSSI). Congress provided funding for this
initiative, which focuses on supporting research related to
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service has a
school safety, from FY2014 through FY2017. As noted
webpage that provides a directory of resources related to
above, FY2018 funding for CSSI is to be used for the SOS
school safety. This webpage has Q&As on school safety
program. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) announced
topics, links to DOJ publications on school safety, and links
that it has cancelled the grant solicitation for funding under
to school safety resources.
the CSSI for FY2018. Under this initiative, NIJ engaged in
the following activities:
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Topics/Topic.aspx?Topicid=
153
Funding programs and research in local schools to
develop and test innovative approaches to enhancing
Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy
school safety.
IF10836
Developing and testing comprehensive school safety
strategies through coordinated activities and evaluations
with select school districts.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives
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