Chicago SRO Budget Reduced Significantly

Chicago SRO Budget Reduced Significantly

You better sit down for this. Chicago Public School have voted to “trim” the budget for school resource officers on city K-12 campuses. By more than half, the budget has been sliced from $33 million to $15 million.

The budget barely passed but it is official now.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS CEO Janice Jackson announced on Wednesday that in addition to budget cuts, the program will also face significant reforms. “I understand the concerns and questions that many have surrounding policing, particularly when it involves our youth,” Lightfoot said during a press conference. “We have heard you, and we have taken major steps to respond.”

Officials for Chicago Public Schools have voted to significantly reduce the budget for school resource officers.

In order to be hired as an SRO, officers cannot have had any excessive force complaints over the past five years, and cannot have a history of verbally or physically assaulting students.

“Candidates will undergo an extensive screening process ensuring their backgrounds are free of excessive force allegations and placing a premium on experiences working with young people,” Lightfoot told reporters.

An SRO cannot be working with federal immigration agents while on duty, and they cannot enter a students’ information into the city’s “gang database,” and cannot access that database while on campus. Complaints against officers will be sent to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, according to Jackson.

Recent protests nationwide, including Chicago, saw protesters arguing that law enforcement should be removed from schools. Some students have expressed personal opinions that SROs watch them walk through the hallways and act as if they are criminals. Those same students said that officers should be replaced with social workers instead.

CPS campuses still have the right to determine if they want SROs on campus. As many as 17 schools have elected to removed the officers, while 55 campuses have chosen to law enforcement to remain. Two of the schools that have elected to relieve officers on campus include Mather High School and Roberto Clemente Career Academy.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Campus Parking Problems: Modern Security Solutions

    Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities. Read Now

  • The Critical Need for Naloxone on School Campuses

    The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings. Read Now

  • Best Practices for A Holistic Approach to Video Solutions in Campus Security

    Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems. Read Now

  • Back to School Planning is a Year-Round Commitment

    With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars

Whitepapers