GEORGIA — Georgia lawmakers are taking it upon themselves to add new school safety regulations to state statutes.
Our Atlanta station, WSB-TV, reports a group of senators introduced a bill that would expand the list of cases involving children ages 13 to 17 that can move from the juvenile justice system into the superior court.
It means students or other juveniles could face charges as adults for making ‘terroristic threats’ against schools or affecting school activities.
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After the shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County in September, hundreds of school threats were called into various law enforcement agencies and schools across Georgia. Many, if not all, were false.
Even if they are not real threats to schools, if they are made “with the purpose of terrorizing another who at the time of such threat is physically present,” the teen suspects could face adult felony charges.
This includes actions that disrupt school activities.
The bill also has provisions for teenagers who use firearms against public safety officers, making it a Class A felony charge of aggravated assault and allowing those cases to be transferred to superior court from juvenile court, as well.
If a child is convicted on an adult offense while a superior court has jurisdiction, the proposed legislation would also require that school superintendents and schools where the child is enrolled be informed of the case details within 30 days.
WFTV reports that courts are urged to consider the age of a child, the seriousness of the offense and if someone was injured, as well as community protection, premeditation or aggression and whether it was part of a repeated pattern showing the “child may be beyond rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system” before moving them to superior court instead.
Read: ‘Parents have got to start parenting:’ Putnam Sheriff’s strong message after more threat arrests
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