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Partnership Clearly Defined

NCJ Number
163305
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Fall 1995) Pages: 9-11
Author(s)
T A Gavin
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Contracts clearly specifying terms and conditions of school resource officers' duties and pay help create partnerships between police and schools that ensure safe school settings and effective learning.
Abstract
The cost of assigning police officers to schools is often shared between the police agency and the local school district. However, some type of written agreement or letter of understanding should be in place any time police officers are routinely assigned to schools. A contract should specify the pay, the billing period, the exclusions, the term of duties, the duty priorities, the handling of absences, the use of replacement officers, and overtime pay. The contract should clearly state that the police officer is an employee of the police or sheriff's department and not the school board. It should specify how school-based personnel should handle complaints against the police officer, guidelines on the sharing of information between the schools and the police, procedures for selecting and replacing the school resource officer, situations in which a child can be interviewed, and interview procedures.