VOL. XVI, NO. 10
MARCH 21, 1975
Legal Action Line
Q. What happens if you are caught doing little pranks by the police (for example, TPing ‑spreading toilet paper in someone's bushes and yard)?
Maine West H.S.
A. Pranks committed inside school are subject to school disciplinary procedures - if they were in fact "minor," the penalties would probably be light. Detention, perhaps, or a suspension of up to 10 days. For a longer suspension a hearing would be required, and most schools prefer to avoid that.
Maine West H.S.
A. Pranks committed inside school are subject to school disciplinary procedures - if they were in fact "minor," the penalties would probably be light. Detention, perhaps, or a suspension of up to 10 days. For a longer suspension a hearing would be required, and most schools prefer to avoid that.
Outside of school is another matter. If taken in by the police, the prankster could be taken before juvenile court as a minor in need of supervision, subject to the same penalties as a delinquent minor. It's not terribly likely that the police would go to all that trouble for someone caught spreading toilet paper, but they might if the pranks were repeated often enough or were of a more serious nature.
A student over 17 years of age would not be subject to any penalty unless his "prank" was a violation of the criminal laws - disturbing the peace, malicious mischief, etc. In which case, the penalty would depend on what the police decided to charge him with.
A student over 17 years of age would not be subject to any penalty unless his "prank" was a violation of the criminal laws - disturbing the peace, malicious mischief, etc. In which case, the penalty would depend on what the police decided to charge him with.