Is the threat of a juvenile a criminal offense?

[netrotex]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
If a child (11) tells someone they are going to kill them (trying to scare his friends at school; told them he was a vampire and was going to kill them and if they told anyone, his cousin (the devil) was going to kill their parents), can this be considered a verbal assault? Realize it is stupid to say, but can it really be considered a credible threat?

Can a child (same) be 'spoken too' by a police officer on school grounds for the 'offense' if a parent is not present?

[IsabellaSoriano]

Originally Posted by netrotex

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
If a child (11) tells someone they are going to kill them (trying to scare his friends at school; told them he was a vampire and was going to kill them and if they told anyone, his cousin (the devil) was going to kill their parents), can this be considered a verbal assault? Realize it is stupid to say, but can it really be considered a credible threat?

Can a child (same) be 'spoken too' by a police officer on school grounds for the 'offense' if a parent is not present?

when the school official's were notified, what did they say?

[netrotex]

Because of zero tolerance, the child has to be punished. A school police officer had already been called in to talk to the child before the parents were notified, and the child spent two days in detention. No previous discipline issues; just goofing with his friens. Now the parent who complained is threatening to bring in the police.

[netrotex]

Seems as if anyone with common sense would have stepped back, analyzed the 'threat', and determined there was no intent and that it was obsurd.

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by netrotex

Seems as if anyone with common sense would have stepped back, analyzed the 'threat', and determined there was no intent and that it was obsurd.

Are there psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral analysts and/or profilers on the school staff who can make such a designation? Absurdity doesn't come into it - history is peppered with accounts of troubled children who make such threats and eventually carry them out.

[CdwJava]

Yes, the police can investigate crimes. Yes, the threat can be taken seriously. yes, it could be a crime under the right circumstances. Is it likely to be prosecuted? No. Is it likely that the school will take administrative action? Yes.

- Carl