Cops and No Counselors
Research in Brief
According to a new nationwide report by the ACLU on the
presence of police and mental health services in schools,
“400,000 K-12 students in California attend a school that has a
police officer but not a counselor.”
Stating that schoolchildren in America are over-policed and
under-supported by health and mental health
professionals. This over-policed and under-supported health
professional environment harms school environments, increases
students’ anxiety and exacerbates discipline disparities among
students of color and those with disabilities.
Surrounding evidence asserts that if schools were properly
staffed with health and mental health professionals and the
student’s needs were met, this would not only improve the health
outcomes for students but also school safety.
Additionally, there seems to be an increase of continued funding
for school-based police while schools face a critical shortage of
counselors, nurses, psychologists and social workers.
Other key issues mentioned in the report:
- The impact of school shootings
- Arrests and law enforcement referrals
