February 23, 2018
Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives
The February 14,, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman
memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the law
Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, has generated
enforcement agency and the partner school that outlines the
renewed interest in federal government efforts to support
program’s purpose, partner roles and responsibilities,
school safety. After school shootings in Columbine, CO,
requirements for information sharing, and how SROs will
and Newtown, CT, Congress provided funding for
be supervised. The COPS Office also requires SROs hired
Department of Justice (DOJ) grant programs to support
with grant funds to attend a regional training program.
school safety efforts. This In Focus provides an overview of
COPS hiring grants can cover up to 75% of the salaries and
DOJ programs for improving school safety, including
fringe benefits of full-time entry-level officers for a three-
grants for school resource officers (SROs) and physical
year grant period. Hiring grants do not cover more than
security (e.g., metal detectors and cameras).
$125,000 in salary and benefits per officer over the three-
year grant period.
Currently Funded Grant Programs
DOJ has two grant programs that can help state, local, and
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
tribal governments start SRO programs and another that
(JAG) program is a formula grant that provides funding to
provides funding for research on school safety. DOJ does
state, local, and tribal governments for a variety of state and
not currently have a program dedicated to physical security
local criminal justice initiatives (see also CRS In Focus
measures in schools.
IF10692). Grant recipients can use their JAG funds for state
and local initiatives, technical assistance, training,
personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and
criminal justice information systems for
What are “SROs”? There is no universal definition
of an SRO. It has been argued that SROs are a new
type of public servant; a hybrid educational,
law enforcement;
correctional, and law enforcement officer. The duties
of SROs can vary from one community to the next.
prosecution and courts;
However, their activities can be placed into three
general categories: (1) safety expert and law enforcer,
prevention and education;
(2) problem solver and liaison to community
resources, and (3) educator. SROs can act as safety
corrections and community corrections;
experts and law enforcers by assuming primary
responsibility for handling calls for service from the
drug treatment;
school, making arrests, issuing citations on campus,
taking actions against unauthorized persons on school
planning, evaluation, and technology improvement;
property, and responding to off-campus criminal
activities that involve students. They also serve as first
crime victim and witness assistance (other than
compensation); and
responders in the event of critical incidents at the
school. SROs can help to solve problems that are not
necessarily crimes but that can contribute to criminal
mental health and related law enforcement and
corrections programs, including behavioral programs
incidents (e.g., bullying or disorderly behavior).
and crisis intervention teams.
Problem-solving activities conducted by SROs can
include developing and expanding crime prevention
JAG’s eight broad program purpose areas are intended to
efforts and community justice initiatives for students.
give states and local units of government flexibility in
SROs can also present courses on topics related to
creating programs to address local needs. As such, grant
policing or responsible citizenship for students, faculty,
recipients could use their funding for school safety
and parents.
initiatives, but they are not required to do so. According to
the Bureau of Justice Assistance, states can subaward JAG
funds to public or private schools as long as the intended
The Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS)
program falls within one of the eight JAG program areas.
Office’s hiring program provides grants to state, local, and
Because JAG funds can be used for personnel related to law
tribal governments with primary law enforcement
enforcement programs, it appears likely that grantees could
responsibilities to hire and re-hire law enforcement officers
use their funding to hire SROs. There might be a question
for entry-level positions (see also CRS Report RL33308).
as to whether JAG funds could be used for physical security
COPS hiring grants can be used to hire SROs. Applicants
measures in schools. While JAG funds can be used for
who want to hire SROs are required to submit a
equipment and supplies, it is not clear whether purchasing
www.crs.gov | 7-5700
Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives
metal detectors or cameras for schools would fit into one of
any other measure that, in the determination of the
the JAG purpose areas.
Director of the COPS Office, may provide a significant
improvement in security.
In the wake of the Newtown school shooting, Congress
provided funding for a Comprehensive School Safety
Grantees are required to provide a 50% match for projects
Initiative. Congress has provided funding for this initiative,
funded under this program. Congress last provided funding
which focuses on supporting research related to school
for the program in FY2011, and the authorization of
safety, every fiscal year since FY2014. Under the initiative,
appropriations for it lapsed in FY2009.
the National Institute of Justice engages in the following
activities:
After the Columbine school shooting, Congress set aside a
proportion of the funding provided for the COPS hiring
Funding programs and research in local schools to
program for grants to hire SROs. The COPS Office
develop and test innovative approaches to enhancing
awarded this funding under their COPS in Schools (CIS)
school safety.
program. Congress provided funding for the CIS program
from FY1999 to FY2005. This program provided grants for
Developing and testing comprehensive school safety
hiring SROs to conduct community policing services in and
strategies through coordinated activities and evaluations
around primary and secondary schools. Grants awarded
with select school districts.
under the CIS program were subject to the same
requirements as hiring grants, but funds had to be used to
Assessing technology designed to increase school
hire SROs. This program ensured that a certain amount of
safety.
hiring funds was used to support SRO programs. CIS did
not have an authorizing statute. Congress supported this
Enhancing data collection efforts related to school
program solely through appropriations.
safety.
Other DOJ Resources on School Safety
Convening experts, including school professionals and
In addition to grant programs to support school safety, DOJ
researchers, to make research findings regarding school
has compiled resources that could be helpful to
safety applicable to real world settings.
policymakers who want to understand more about this
issue, or school administrators and law enforcement
Engaging in partnerships with other federal agencies to
professionals who want to explore ways to enhance the
bring a multi-disciplinary approach to school safety
safety of their local schools.
(e.g., education, law enforcement, health and mental
health, and criminal justice).
For example, the COPS Office has a webpage that provides
background information on SROs, including fact sheets on
What About Unfunded Grant Programs? MOUs between schools and law enforcement agencies that
In late 1990s and 2000s, Congress appropriated funding for
provide SROs and SRO training.
two programs that provided funding for physical school
security measures, the Matching Grant Program for School
https://cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2687
Security and the COPS in Schools program. However,
neither program has been funded for several years.
DOJ’s Crime Solutions website provides information on
Policymakers might consider whether to revive these
evaluations of school safety programs and practices.
programs to help support school security efforts, especially
Evaluations can be sorted by those DOJ has rated as
if Congress is looking for an avenue to provide funding to
effective, those that are “promising,” and those that are
schools for installation of physical security measures.
ineffective.
Grants under the Matching Grant Program for School
https://www.crimesolutions.gov/TopicDetails.aspx?ID=
Security can be awarded to state, local, and tribal
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governments to improve security at schools and on school
grounds. Specifically, grants can be used for
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service has a
webpage that provides a directory of resources related to
placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting,
school safety. This webpage has Q&As on school safety
and other deterrent measures;
topics, links to DOJ publications on school safety, and links
to school safety resources.
security assessments;
https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Topics/Topic.aspx?Topicid=
security training of personnel and students;
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the development and operation of crisis intervention
Nathan James, njames@crs.loc.gov, 7-0264
teams, which may include coordination with law
enforcement agencies and specialized training for school
IF10836
officials in responding to mental health crises;
coordination with local law enforcement; and
www.crs.gov | 7-5700