In light of the national and local focus on police reform and the Indianapolis Public Schools’ commitment to being an antiracist institution, IPS administration contacted PPI’s Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy to assist them in identifying the best practices for achieving bias-free policing practices within their school district.
CRISP researchers conducted a review of Indianapolis Public Schools Police Department’s (IPS PD) operations, highlighting established practices that help facilitate the safety of students, school administration, and staff. The study focused primarily on key components of successful school resource officer programs: governance and oversight, transparency and accountability, collaboration, and training and professional development.
Researchers examined existing literature on evidence-based school policing practices and interviewed and surveyed key IPS constituents—members of IPS PD, IPS administration, staff, students, and parents or caregivers. The research team also conducted a comprehensive review of IPS PD documents, including its standard operating procedures and incident reports.
