Securing Safety: A Comparison of the Impact of SROs and Restorative Justice on Students' Feelings of Safety and School Environment

This study explored the question: To what extent can restorative justice be considered a viable complete replacement for SROs in terms of students' feelings of safety and school environment in all CPS high schools? Currently, CPS directs a large budget towards SROs, however, stakeholders doubt the effectiveness of SROs and warn of their disproportionately negative effect on marginalized students and students who have experienced trauma. CPS has begun to implement restorative justice, but there is doubt surrounding its effectiveness. This study used qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys with experts and members of Local School Councils surrounding opinions of the effects of SROs and interest in restorative justice. The findings of this study revealed that SROs provide few benefits to a school environment, while restorative justice is successful in preventing violence and safety concerns in schools. Generally, stakeholders felt that replacing SROs with restorative justice has the capacity to benefit student safety and school environment if schools are properly prepared to make the change. The results of this study support the policy recommendation that SROs should gradually be removed and replaced by restorative justice in all CPS high schools, in conjunction with the implementation of trust initiatives between students and staff and a safety plan involving community partnerships.