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School Resource Officers

 

What is a S.R.O.?

Approximately 1,128 full- and part-time School Resource Officers (SROs) serve in Virginia’s public schools. 

As defined in § 9.1-101, Code of Virginia, an SRO is a certified law enforcement officer employed by a local law enforcement agency to provide law enforcement and security services to public elementary or secondary schools. A required Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes the framework for the SRO program, defining the purposes, goals, and responsibilities of each agency involved. Its primary aim is to clearly outline the roles of both schools and law enforcement in the use of SROs, creating a mutually beneficial partnership. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, the MOU helps build a positive and safe school environment while ensuring effective and timely communication and coordination between both parties. 

The Virginia Model Memorandum of Understanding emphasizes the multiple roles SROs serve in schools. The roles are interrelated, but all are carried out with the aim to contribute to school safety and security and to promote positive and supportive school climates. The key roles of an SRO are Law Enforcement Officer, Law-Related Educator, and Role Model/Informal Mentor.

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S.R.O. Training

The Code of Virginia directs DCJS to provide training for SROs as follows: 

§ 9.1-102.54. Establish compulsory minimum training standards for certification and recertification of law-enforcement officers serving as school resource officers. Such training shall be specific to the role and responsibility of a law-enforcement officer working with students in a school environment and shall include: 

  • Relevant state and federal laws; 

  • school and personal liability issues;  

  • security awareness in the school environment;  

  • mediation and conflict resolution, including de-escalation techniques;  

  • disaster and emergency response;  

  • awareness of systemic and individual racism, cultural diversity, and implicit bias;  

  • working with students with disabilities, mental health needs, substance use disorders, or past traumatic experiences; and  

  • student behavioral dynamics, including current child and adolescent development and brain research. 

To meet this directive, the SRO Program of DCJS’s Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS) provides numerous training opportunities for both law enforcement and schools throughout the Commonwealth. DCJS offers year-round training for SROs to help them enhance their skills and better serve their communities. This training covers a variety of topics, including but not limited to: 

Certification

A proposed regulation to establish minimum qualification standards and certification requirements for SROs is currently in the APA process.  Typically, regulatory actions take about 18-24 months to complete.  Updates and FAQ's will be posted here as they become available. 

SRO and School Administrator Basic School - Upcoming Training Schedule

March 24-27, 2025 in Virginia Beach, VA

May 19-22, 2025 in Hanover, VA

June 23-26, 2025 in Newport News, VA

July 7-10, 2025 in Bristol, VA

August 18-21, 2025 in Lynchburg, VA

September 8-11, 2025 in Ashburn, VA

SRO and School-Law Enforcement Partnership Resources

Information Sharing Guide for K-12 Public Schools

Virginia School-Law Enforcement Partnership Guide

School-Law Enforcement Partnership Model Memorandum of Understanding - pdf (Revised 11/2023)

 

Related Programs

Virginia Rules 

YOVASO  (Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety)

YADAPP  (Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project)

Be Safe Virginia 

Handle with Care – Virginia 

D.A.R.E  (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

Crisis Management Plan - Curriculum 

B.O.L.T.  (Being Outstanding Leaders Together)

School Resource Officer Video Series from the National School Safety Training Center

  • Cultural Differences: Who Knew? As a School Resource Officer (SRO), you are vital in bridging cultural differences and creating a climate of inclusion, ultimately making your school a safer and richer place.
  • Why Aren't They Telling You? In this video, learn more about what goes through a students’ mind when they hear something disturbing but choose not to report it, and the different ways you can remove barriers and build trust between yourself and your students.
  • The First Five Things An SRO Should Do You’ve been assigned to a school as a new School Resource Officer (SRO). Now what? In this video, learn the first five steps you should take as a new SRO. SRO Poster – The First 5 Things
  • The Teen Brain Unlike traditional law enforcement officials, School Resource Officers (SROs) work almost exclusively with young people, so it is crucial they understand how students think and make decisions. But that is no easy task.
  • The Next Five Things An SRO Should Do In an earlier video in our SRO series, you learned the first five things an SRO should do. This last video of the series shares the next five things you should do, including understanding school rules and the law, joining the threat assessment team, understanding safety plans, and being confident in your role. SRO Poster - The Next Five Things An SRO Should Do

SRO/SSO Incentive Grant Program

The SRO/SSO Incentive Grant Program provides funding to localities to place either a School Resource Officer or School Security Officer in elementary and secondary schools where none currently exist.

School Resource Officer Contacts

Derrick Mathis, School Resource Officer Training and Program Coordinator
804.802.9084
Email Derrick

David Weaver, School Resource Officer Program Support Specialist
804.759.8577
Email David

James Christian, K-12 School Safety and Threat Assessment Manager
804.357.0967
Email James