South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Article 17 - PERSONNEL
Section 43-210 - School Resource Officers
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
I. Expectations for School Resource Officers in South Carolina Public Schools
School resource officers are necessary to provide law enforcement services to a safe learning environment. School resource officers shall act in accordance with policies and procedures of the local law enforcement agency or employing local governmental entity to enforce state laws and county and municipal ordinances.
II. Resource Officers Defined
A school resource officer is defined in S.C. Code Ann § 5-7-12.
III. Role of the School Resource Officer
School resource officers shall not only be called to respond to criminal incidents, but also to assist in emergency crisis planning, building security, and training school personnel on handling crisis situations.
Teachers and staff shall utilize school resource officers within the classroom to help design and present law-related topics regarding the role of law enforcement in our society.
School administrators shall encourage school resource officers' visibility within the school community, as well as attendance and participation at school functions, to build working relationships with school personnel, students, and parents.
School resource officers shall be positive role models and may be used to promote the profession of law enforcement as a career choice for students. School administrators shall support positive interactions between school resource officers and students on school campuses.
IV. Procedures
School resource officers are not school disciplinarians and shall not ordinarily be requested or permitted to intervene in school discipline matters. The school resource officers shall be called when a student's behavior amounts to a Level III violation for which law enforcement involvement is required (see Regulation 43-279). School resource officers shall be called to respond to any misconduct when
In addition, school administrators must also contact law enforcement consistent with S.C. Code Ann. 59-24-60.
When law enforcement referrals are required, a school resource officer shall be the first line of contact for local law enforcement to ensure that the matter is resolved expeditiously to decrease significant interruption to the learning process.
The school resource officer shall be called immediately to handle a disturbance or emergency as defined in S.C. Code Ann. 16-17-420.
V. Memorandum of Understanding
Prior to placing a school resource officer at a school or in a district office, a memorandum of understanding must be executed between the school district, and the employing local law enforcement agency. The role of the school district, individual schools, local law enforcement agency, school administration, and the school resource officer shall be clearly defined in the memorandum of understanding. The role of the school resource officer must clearly be defined pursuant to S.C. Code Ann 5-7-12 and in the memorandum of understanding. The provisions of this regulation and Regulation 43-279 must be included in the memorandum of understanding.
The school district shall provide the school administration with a copy of the memorandum of understanding, and review it with the school administration and with the school resource officer prior to the start of every school year.
