Interacting with Police in Schools

Many schools have police that go by different names, such as School Resource Officer, Deputy, or School Safety Officer. Sometimes they also act as teachers and counselors. Remember: they are ALWAYS law enforcement agents. That means that if you tell them about criminal activity by you or someone you know, they could follow up or even make an arrest.

When you interact with the police in school, be respectful. But don’t be afraid to assert your rights.

• Stay calm. Don't argue, resist, run away, or interfere with the officer (even if you think she or he is wrong). You can ask calmly if you're free to leave. If yes, calmly and silently walk away.
• If a police officer tells you that you're not free to go, in some states, she or he may require you to identify yourself.
• Know that you can assert your right to remain silent and can answer any question by saying, "I want to remain silent." You also have the right not to write or sign a statement. If you choose to speak or write about what happened, your words can be used against you.
• If you think you want to make a statement, you can also ask to have a lawyer, a parent, or another adult present before you are questioned. If you talk, your words can still be used against you, but it's the best way to protect your rights.
• Let an adult you trust know what happened. If you're hurt, see a doctor and take pictures of your injuries.
• Afterwards, write down everything you remember (like the officer's badge number and name, who else was there, and what happened).

• A search is when an officer looks through your belongings, like your phone or your pockets, to find evidence of a crime.
• If an officer asks to search you or your belongings, you can say, "I do not consent to this search." This may not stop the search, but this is the best way to protect your rights.
• An officer cannot search you based on a feeling, a rumor, the color of your skin, or the clothes you're wearing. For example, you can't be searched just because an officer thinks that you "look like" a drug dealer.
• The search must be related to the crime that you're suspected of committing. For example, an officer cannot search your pockets if he or she thinks you stole a laptop from school because you can't hide a laptop in your pocket.
• Police and school employees are NEVER allowed to strip search you.

• Do not resist arrest.
• If you're arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately.
• A police officer can only arrest you if she or he knows facts (not a rumor or guess) indicating that you probably committed a crime. For example, an officer can arrest you if she or he saw you steal a computer from school.

Always remember:

• Be smart: never resist an arrest or fight an officer.
• A police officer should never harass or bully you or make fun of a personal characteristic, like your race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Also, police officers should never use more force than is reasonable. Tasing, use of pepper spray, handcuffing, or causing an injury can all qualify as excessive use of force.
• If you're allowed to use your phone at school, you're also allowed to take pictures and video of on-duty police in public areas at your school as long as you don't interfere with what they're doing.
• If you think your rights have been violated in any way, contact us online.