As Jamaica continues to grapple with school violence, bullying, and student conflict, there have been increasing calls for a greater police presence in schools through the expansion of School Resource Officers (SROs). While this may appear to be a practical solution, but evidence suggests that this move may create more problems than it solves.

Texas provides a cautionary tale. A recent New York Times news report highlighted incidents in which children were handcuffed, restrained, arrested, and subjected to force for behaviour that traditionally would have been addressed by teachers, guidance counsellors, or school administrators. Rather than improving safety, the increased involvement of law enforcement contributed to the criminalisation of normal childhood behaviour.

There are lessons to be learnt. Schools are educational institutions, not extensions of the criminal justice system. Increasing the number of police officers in schools may risk shifting the focus from learning and child development to surveillance and punishment.