The Rhode Island governor has signed a bill which will require the state attorney general to publish data on school resource officers.
State Representative Joseph McNamara was the chief sponsor of the legislation.
“The enforcement of law and student discipline has a major impact on school climate,” said Representative McNamara, who chairs the House Education Committee. “It’s imperative that we receive reports and consistent data to make informed policy decisions as it relates to school resource officers and school discipline — particularly the disparities that exist in school arrests in relation to race and disabilities.”
The law requires information on use-of-force, arrests and court referrals.
This comes as the ACLU shares news that a federal judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit from a black honors student at Goff Middle School in Pawtucket, who alleged that a school officer arrested her in 2019 to, quote, "make an example" out of her.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, Newsradio RI)
Photo: John Baibak. WHYN News