A threat made against a school is a crime.
Across the country and here in East Texas, law enforcement agencies and school districts are experiencing an unfortunate spike in the number of online threats made against schools.
Though most of these cases turn out to be hoaxes, they instill fear among students and faculty, their families, and the community. Additionally, these incidents disrupt the learning environment and require substantial resources and investigative hours from law enforcement.
Students, their parents, and community members need to understand the wide-reaching impacts of school threats, the very serious consequences for making a threat, real or fake, and the ability of law enforcement to identify and track down perpetrators.
We cannot tolerate this. And we will do everything in our power to hold those who make threats accountable. But we can't combat this problem alone. We need your help. We need kids to understand that when you make a threat against a school, regardless of whether that threat is real or fake, you are committing a CRIME that has VERY SERIOUS consequences.
If you ever see, hear, or learn about a threat against a school, please call 911 and notify law enforcement immediately.
Making a fake threat of violence is a criminal act that can land you in prison. It doesn't matter if you say it, text it, write it, snap it, or post it on social media, students who make threats can face serious consequences. Even if it was meant to be a joke, calling in a fake threat of violence is a state crime in Texas, as well as a federal crime.
Every violent threat is taken seriously, because police don't know if a threat is real or fake. Each time a threat is made against one of our schools, man hours and tax dollars are wasted searching the location, and the school day is disrupted. Fake threats can greatly affect absentee rates and have a profound impact on a student's future.
Types of School Threats
Making a threat to a school can result in different criminal charges depending on the nature and severity of the threat. Here are some examples of school threats and their potential consequences:
Even Fake Threats Have Real Consequences
School threats are a serious matter, and we want to bring awareness to our community. Even if you make a threat against a school as a joke, you are still committing a crime, and you will be held accountable for your actions. Please take a moment to watch and share this video.