Bill would crack down on those threatening students

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 1/29/15

In October of last year Johnston Police received anonymous and violent letters threatening the beheading of students in that town as well as Cranston and Warwick. All of the municipalities were quick …

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Bill would crack down on those threatening students

Posted

In October of last year Johnston Police received anonymous and violent letters threatening the beheading of students in that town as well as Cranston and Warwick. All of the municipalities were quick to increase police presence at all schools.

However, the perpetrator of last year’s threats has not been caught as of yet.

Now, Representative Deborah Fellela (D-Dist 43, Johnston) is introducing a bill that would make similar threats a felony. As of now, Fellela said, the acts are currently only a misdemeanor with a low fine.

If the bill were to pass, any threat, whether made by phone, smart or otherwise, computer, social media or a plethora of other devices, made towards any public or private school, college, daycare or preschool would be a felony. Those convicted would not only face a fine of $10,000 to $100,000, but could also be sentenced to five to 20 years in jail. Similarly, they would also be held accountable for any expenses for emergency response necessary due to the threat.

Fellela says the bill has received amazing support all around and she can’t see anyone opposing the bill since youth have always been a priority.

She said, “It upsets administrators, it upsets parents and, sadly, it upsets the children. These perpetrators need to think about what they are doing to everyone. We are not fooling around. This is a high priority for everyone.”

Last year after the threats, police presence was increased at all the schools, attendance was extremely low as parents kept their children home and teachers and administrators alike were on high alert.

Richard D’Agostino, Superintendent of Warwick Public Schools, said tension was high throughout the school system.

A threat, even if it doesn’t come to fruition, makes teachers, parents and students alike question their safety for a long time after the fact.

“Even if it’s a practical joke or worse, there is a real intent. Why would you pick on innocent children,” D’Agostino said. “Those type of people deserve to be prosecuted and brought to justice. They shouldn’t be allowed to do this and nothing comes of it when they are traumatizing so many people. Children should not be subjected to this type of fear.”

The mayors of all three cities affected by last year’s public school threats believe that Fellela’s bill is one of the best pieces of legislation introduced and all fully support it.

Mayor of Johnston Joseph Polisena said, “Not only are these threats an inconvenience, but they can be very traumatic to not only students but the whole community. They put fear in our most vulnerable population, our children. It is not fair. Not only does it disrupt their psyche but also their learning.”

He said that children deserve to be protected, to feel safe in their place of learning, and Fellela’s bill is necessary in doing so.

Mayor Scott Avedisian, said, “Beyond the financial issues associated with the threats that were made against the public schools in Cranston, Johnston and Warwick, the disruption that closures and modified schedules created for families, teachers and students took a large toll on our communities.” 

Avedisian believes that those threatening schools deserve a punishment because they often cause more harm than they even realize.

The bill should be heard in the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday night, weather depending.

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  • davebarry109

    Not sure what this would accomplish other than making some legislators feel good and selling it to their constituents as 'protecting children'. The people who make these calls are usually mentally ill. Closing the schools is the worse thing people can do but they do it all the time.

    Friday, January 30, 2015 Report this