REPORT

POLICING FREE SCHOOLS:

A community-based exploration of

the impacts of SRO programs within

the Greater Sudbury Area

As an organization rooted in abolitionist and equitable values, our organization was highly compelled to further investigate the impact of policing within educational institutions in the Greater Sudbury area – as there is limited reporting and/or data on this phenomenon and its subsequent impacts. In August 2021, we began the Sudbury Policing Free Schools initiative with the intent of:

1. Ensuring all key stakeholders (i.e community members, teachers, staff, students) are aware of the Sudbury School Resource Officer (SRO) program and the involvement of policing within educational institutions;

2. Centering and privileging the experiences of racialized and/or marginalized students as they outline their experiences with school police officer programs;

3. Determining the impacts (i.e emotional, psychological, academic) of SRO programs in Greater Sudbury; and

4. Advocating for equitable schools without police involvement.

The purpose of this research report is to present our research findings in regards to policing within educational institutions in the Greater Sudbury Area, and to highlight the disproportionate targeting of racialised youth by police, and the negative impact of policing on schools and families. This report centres our findings and supporting literature from advocacy groups of parents/guardians/caregivers, students, and teachers, organizing for equitable schools without police involvement, as well as a conclusive series of recommendations to address systemic racism and carceral punishment in schools.

This report was made available to the public in September 2023.