DA: Mental health a factor in threat discipline
Weatherford DemocratMar 16, 2018
Schnebly responsed in writing to questions posed by a
Each case and punishment should be decided on an individual basis, and mental health is an important aspect of evaluating children who make threats that rise to the level of illegality, the district attorney said.
"If children are struggling with mental health issues, they need to know of the services available to assist them," he said. "Furthermore, anyone with knowledge of a particular threat should report the information immediately to law enforcement and school authorities."
Mental health will be taken into account when it comes to evaluating each juvenile, Schnebly said.
"Often information regarding a juvenile's family history, school history, mental health and substance abuse issues are compiled through the
"Every case is analyzed individually and a disposition recommendation to the court is made based on the facts of the offense, needs of the juvenile and safety of the community," Schnebly said. "During the pendency of the case, a juvenile may be required to participate in psychological evaluations and risk assessments to assist the parties in determining the appropriate disposition for their specific case."
All threats will be treated seriously, regardless of whether there is evidence the individual who made the threat was prepared to act on it, Schnebly said.
"All threats will be taken seriously and treated as legitimate," he said.
While identifying threats can be done in the legal realm, the overall community plays a role as well, Schnebly said.
"Adults in all arenas -- parents, educators, law enforcement and community members, need to pay attention to safety concerns that are raised by either juveniles in crisis or their peers," he said.
Schnebly's comments seem to echo those in the medical career field.
Although the majority of targeted violence attackers reveal their intentions to a family member, friend or associate, most bystanders did not inform law enforcement or seek help and intervention, according to a 2015 study by
The study recommended that law enforcement, mental health professionals, faith leaders, educators, community advocates, parents, and peers "assess risk and develop intervention strategies specific to the pre-criminal space."
An article published in 2017 for the
Punishment recommendations for the juveniles who have recently made terroristic threats to the school district could range from incarceration and probation to mental health treatment, Schnebly said.
"The purpose of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate the offender," Schnebly said. "'Punishment', which is called disposition, generally ranges from an informal probation at the low end of the spectrum through certification to stand trial as an adult at the high end. Other options include probation, placement at treatment facilities to address a juvenile's needs, or commitment of a juvenile to the
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