Police in Schools

Texas School Police Referred Tens of Thousands of Children to Prosecutors for Minor Misbehavior

A media investigation found criminal referrals of schoolchildren age 10 to 13 grew as the number of school resource officers in Texas likewise ballooned.

C.J. Ciaramella | 10.21.2026 2:55 PM

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School resource officers (SROs) in Texas referred tens of thousands of elementary and middle schoolers for prosecution for relatively minor misconduct over the last decade, a news investigation found.

An analysis by The New York Times and the San Antonio Express-News reported that, as the number of SROs in Texas grew, children in Texas ages 10 to 13 were referred to prosecution for misbehaving in school more than 47,000 times since 2014. A referral doesn't necessarily result in charges being filed, but each one represents a minor being taken into police custody and put in contact with the criminal justice system, which can have long-lasting educational, emotional, and financial impacts for students and their families.

"Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers," the papers reported. "Few caused serious physical harm."

Among the examples........

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