Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0720-7541
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Jean Caraway
Abstract
Since the 1990s School Resource Officers (SROs) have been commonly employed in schools throughout the United States. However, their jobs may look very different depending on what setting they are in and the different administrative policies governing their work. Throughout this time, researchers have focused on the different roles that SROs have within the educational environment and how these roles are put into action when interacting with students. However, there have been limited studies exploring the role SROs play when interacting with students who are experiencing mental health problems or experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental health problems have become more common among youth, with 1 in 5 children having a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder. Nevertheless, many do not receive treatment for their conditions and are more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system than their peers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to better understand the SROs’ lived experiences when responding to a student experiencing a mental health crisis in K-12 schools to identify their role in that situation. Using phenomenological qualitative methodology, six current or former SROs with years of experience ranging from three years to over 20 years as an SRO participated in this study. Participants completed a brief survey for demographics and were asked warrior vs. guardian questions and completed a one-hour interview. Findings from the warrior vs. guardian questions showed more agreement with the guardian questions over the warrior questions. Data from their interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: altruism, building relationships with students, impactful trainings, and differing SRO roles. Overall, this study finds that SROs describe having a positive influence on the school environment and when responding to a student experiencing a mental health crisis.
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology | Psychology
Keywords
Crisis Response, Education, Mental Health, School Resource Officers
Number of Pages
94
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Vinzant, Ryan Christopher, "Understanding the Role of School Resource Officers in Addressing Students’ Mental Health Needs: A Phenomenological Study" (2026). Dissertations and Theses. 435.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/435