Agencies warn of consequences after surge in hoax school shooting threats
Now is the time to have that talk with your child.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Anyone who hears or sees a threat against a school should immediately report it to local police or school leaders. Threatening school safety is never a joke. The consequences are very serious and can include jail time, a criminal record, and financial costs for those caught making threats.
Any threat is traumatizing to many, including parents, students, and school staff. That emotional distress can be very real, especially with details of the Georgia shooting being on many people’s minds.
Today's threats often come in the form of social media posts. Police officers state that chasing down threats takes away from them being able to keep teachers, schools, and students safe when they have to follow up on these unsubstantiated threats. The kids may think it’s funny or they think they’re going to get out of school. Threats also divert all of the resources to that one location leaving the rest of the community more vulnerable.
When threats are made on social media, investigators must trace them to determine their origin. Deputies or officers may also visit a student’s home to determine whether there is any validity to the threat.
The consequences of a hoax threat depend on several factors, including whether the student has previously been in trouble. Those caught making school threats could simply be released to their parents, police agencies said. Or they could be taken to a Youth Detention Center, where they will be held until appearing before a judge. Lastly, depending on the crime and the suspect’s age, they could be charged as an adult.
In addition to the criminal record, those accused of making threats against schools — or more likely their parents or guardians — will face the financial costs of defending the charges, along with missing work during the investigation and court appearances.
We encourage all adults to explain to children the seriousness of making threats, even if no harm is intended by the threat.