Fighting Civil Rights Violations by School Resource Officers

When Safety Turns Into Something Else

Parents expect schools to protect children, not frighten them. School Resource Officers are introduced as safety measures, people who can bridge the gap between law enforcement and education. But when an officer crosses a line, everything shifts. Parents describe children coming home quieter, jumpier, or suddenly uninterested in school. They describe conversations that feel incomplete, as if their child is hiding the worst parts because they don’t want to worry anyone.

That is often when families reach out to experienced civil rights attorneys. At Horn Wright, LLP, we hear stories of parents replaying voicemail messages or searching their child’s face for clues. They know something happened. They just don’t know what. When a child fears the very person meant to protect them, that is a sign the system has gone wrong.

Why Problems With SROs Are More Common Than People Think

The U.S. Department of Education has noted the rapid growth of School Resource Officers across the country. With growth comes inconsistency. Some officers build trust with students. Others lack proper training in youth behavior, mental health needs, and de-escalation. In those cases, what should be a small behavioral issue becomes an incident that leaves a child shaken.

Teenagers react quickly and emotionally. Officers who treat teenage fear as aggression often escalate situations instead of calming them. When authority is misused in a school hallway, children absorb that experience in ways adults sometimes overlook. It can affect their trust in the school, their ability to learn, and their sense of safety.

How Kids Show Something Is Wrong

Children rarely open a conversation with, “An officer scared me today.” Instead, their fear shows up in scattered, subtle ways, changes parents notice before anyone explains what happened. Sometimes the warning signs appear so quietly that parents only recognize the pattern after looking back.

Parents often describe:

• A child becoming anxious in the morning, as if they are bracing for something they cannot name.
• Emotional distance at home, with fewer details about their day or sudden irritability.
• Hesitation during conversations about school, especially when discipline or certain staff members are mentioned.

These are not typical teenage moods. They are reactions to feeling powerless.

When Physical Force Crosses Boundaries

Injuries caused by an SRO are particularly painful for children to discuss. They may feel ashamed or fear getting in deeper trouble. Sometimes the physical signs are small, a red mark on the arm, soreness after being grabbed, but those marks carry emotional weight a child cannot ignore.

Parents should pay attention to:

• Injuries a child struggles to explain, especially when the story sounds rehearsed or incomplete.
• New physical discomfort after school days that used to be routine.
• A noticeable change in posture or body language, often showing tension or fear.

Force against a student is not “firm discipline.” It is a serious misuse of authority.

Discrimination and Bias: The Harm That Isn’t Always Visible

The New York State Division of Human Rights recognizes how bias and unequal treatment affect students, especially those with disabilities, children of color, or kids who express themselves differently. Parents sometimes see discipline falling harder on one child than another, even when their behavior is similar.

Bias may take the form of:

• A child repeatedly singled out by an officer who shows little restraint or patience.
• Assumptions about a student’s behavior based on appearance, disability, or cultural differences.
• Disproportionate consequences for minor issues, especially compared to peers.

Discrimination by an SRO can alter a student’s entire relationship with school.

When the School Doesn’t Step In

Parents often assume that administrators will intervene when an SRO behaves inappropriately. But schools sometimes hesitate to challenge law enforcement authority. Teachers may witness an incident but feel unsure about speaking up. Administrators may claim they will “look into it,” yet parents hear nothing more.

This silence leaves children feeling unprotected. It leaves parents feeling betrayed. And it strengthens the need to document everything.

Parents often begin saving emails, writing notes after conversations, and requesting written incident reports, not because they want conflict, but because it is the only way to ensure their concerns are taken seriously.

What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Child

When an SRO harms or intimidates a student, families sometimes feel overwhelmed. Anger, sadness, and confusion can all happen at once. Still, taking clear steps can rebuild a sense of control.

Parents often begin by:

• Writing down what their child says immediately, while details are fresh. This helps create a clear timeline.
• Requesting copies of relevant incident reports or disciplinary documentation, which forces the school to acknowledge the event on paper.
• Speaking with outside advocates when the school minimizes the issue or provides vague explanations, because external support can push institutions to address wrongdoing honestly.

Your child depends on you not only to believe them but to act on their behalf.

When a Line Has Been Crossed, Children Need Protection

A school environment should strengthen a child, not frighten them. When an SRO misuses force, intimidates a student, or treats a child unfairly, the harm extends far beyond a single moment. It affects learning, confidence, and emotional well-being. It also violates fundamental rights.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our experienced civil rights attorneys help families uncover what happened, stand up to unjust school practices, and protect children when institutions fail them. If you believe a School Resource Officer mistreated your child, contact us and we will help you get the answers, protection, and accountability your family deserves.