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1 [1] (April 24, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govzfe0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislative debate since 1914 Updated April 24, 2018 Department of Justice Support for School Safety Initiatives The February 14,2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, and the March 20, 2018, shooting at Great Mills High School in Great Mills, MD, has generated renewed interest in federal government efforts to support school safety. This In Focus provides an overview of Department of Justice (DOJ) programs for improving school safety, including grants for school resource officers (SROs) and physical security (e.g., metal detectors and cameras). Grant Programs for School Safety DOJ has two grant programs-Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) programs-that can help state, local, and tribal governments start school resource officer (SRO) programs. Congress also recently reauthorized the Secure Our Schools (SOS) program, which is to provide funding for physical security measures in schools. Finally, until recently, Congress has provided funding for school safety research through the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative. What are SROs? There is no universal definition of an SRO. The duties of SROs can vary from one community to the next. However, their activities can be placed into three general categories: (I) safety expert and law enforcer, (2) problem solver and liaison to community resources, and (3) educator. SROs can act as safety experts and law enforcers by assuming primary responsibility for handling calls for service from the school, making arrests, issuing citations on campus, taking actions against unauthorized persons on school property, and responding to off-campus criminal activities that involve students. They also serve as first responders in the event of critical incidents at the school. SROs can help solve problems that are not necessarily crimes (e.g., bullying or disorderly behavior) but that can contribute to a poor school climate and may lead to criminal incidents. Problem-solving activities conducted by SROs can include developing and expanding crime prevention efforts and community justice initiatives for the school and its students. SROs can also present courses on topics related to policing or responsible citizenship for students, faculty, and parents. SRO-Related Grants The COPS hiring program provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments with primary law enforcement responsibilities to hire new or former law enforcement officers for entry-level positions (see also CRS Report RL33308, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): In Brief). COPS hiring grants can be used to hire officers to serve as SROs. Applicants who want to hire SROs are required to submit a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the law enforcement agency and the partner school that outlines the program's purpose, partner roles and responsibilities, requirements for information sharing, and how an SRO will be supervised. The COPS Office also requires SROs hired with grant funds to attend a regional training program. COPS hiring grants can cover up to 75% of the salaries and fringe benefits of full-time entry-level officers for a three-year grant period. Hiring grants do not cover more than $125,000 in salary and benefits per officer over the three-year grant period. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a formula grant that provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments for a variety of state and local criminal justice initiatives (see also). Grant recipients 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. JAG's broad program purpose areas are intended to give states and local units of government flexibility in creating programs to address local needs. As such, grant recipients could use their funding for school safety initiatives, but they are not required to do so. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), states can subaward JAG funds to public or private schools as long as the intended program falls within one of the eight JAG program areas. Because JAG funds can be used for personnel related to law enforcement programs it appears likely that grantees could use their funding to hire SROs. According to the Office of Justice Programs, state and local governments can also subaward JAG funds to schools for physical security measures as long as there is a criminal justice nexus and the program falls within one of JAG's purpose areas. Security Measures in Schools Congress recently reauthorized the SOS program through the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (Title V, Division S, P.L. 115-141). Under this program, grants can be awarded to state, local, and tribal governments for 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 violence against others and self; * developing and operating anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and websites; https:/crsreports.congress go

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