CJC-5010AP - Use of Force Management for School Resource Officers

Course Description

School Resource Officer (SRO) is an important and challenging position with many additional risks compared to patrol. School Resource Officers must be able to interact and operate in a densely populated area with distinct groups of people with their own perceptions of an SRO's role.

This course provides an understanding of the major risks that have led to discipline, termination, civil liability, and criminal charges against SROs. This course is designed to supplement the NC Justice Academy SRO certification by providing knowledge and skills not covered and addressing additional areas of training requested in the 2018 NC SRO Survey.

The process of Preservation Orders for social media, Threat Assessment, response to active shooters and de-escalation/communication skills with teenagers are some examples. The Justification to arrest and use non-lethal force in the school setting can be different than patrol. Additional understanding of restraining techniques, TASERs, and pepper spray are given to improve SRO decision-making with non-lethal force risk management in schools. Access and use of personal information through school databases must follow a strict process and additional documentation of non-criminal encounters/interactions with students must be done to minimize additional risks to SROs.