A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a sworn law-enforcement officer with arrest powers who works, either full or part-time, in a school setting. The SRO program was created to provide on-premises police services to public and private schools and enhance the security of students and staff. The main difference separating an SRO from other police officers is that they have had some special training on how to work with youths. The National Association of School Resource Officers offers several courses, including basic 40-hour training that includes some content on the adolescent brain, cyber safety, and violence prevention in schools, among other topics.

SROs have a diverse role in the school and community and have many duties and responsibilities. They support school-wide efforts to educate students on the consequences of unacceptable behavior, both in the school and in the community. In addition, the SRO works to educate students in crime prevention and personal safety. Teachers and SROs can create lessons that can complement the school curriculum in almost every subject area. The SRO provides crisis and emergency training to the faculty and staff, conducts informational presentations to parent groups concerning emerging drug trends their children may be exposed to, and speaks to school clubs about driver safety issues.

SROs are responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff. They are trained to respond to a variety of situations, including medical emergencies, natural disasters, and acts of violence. SROs also work to prevent crime by building positive relationships with students and staff, providing a visible presence on campus, and monitoring school grounds and facilities. They are responsible for enforcing school policies and state laws, investigating criminal activity, and making arrests when necessary.