VOL. XVI, NO. 11
APRIL 11, 1975
Legal Action Line
What happens to a student who turns in a false fire alarm (by breaking the glass in an alarm box)? What can happen to a student who telephones a false bomb threat (by phoning the school or the local police station)?
Elmwood Park High School
Both moves are most unwise - the penalties depend on the age of the student and the attitude of the school and judge. A student under 17 years of age would likely be brought before a juvenile court for either a false fire alarm or a bomb threat. If he is judged guilty, he could then be declared a delinquent minor. The disposition of delinquent minors is determined by the court. The student could be placed under supervision and returned to his parents, but he could also be taken from his parents and remanded to the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services or any one of a number of various penal institutions and juvenile training schools.
Elmwood Park High School
Both moves are most unwise - the penalties depend on the age of the student and the attitude of the school and judge. A student under 17 years of age would likely be brought before a juvenile court for either a false fire alarm or a bomb threat. If he is judged guilty, he could then be declared a delinquent minor. The disposition of delinquent minors is determined by the court. The student could be placed under supervision and returned to his parents, but he could also be taken from his parents and remanded to the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services or any one of a number of various penal institutions and juvenile training schools.
In addition to whatever action the courts might take, the school involved would probably be able to expel the student for "gross misconduct."
For a student over 17 years of age, the penalties are even stiffer, since the violator would be subject to adult criminal law, not the juvenile court system. In that case, a student phoning a false bomb threat could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and sent to jail for a term not to exceed one year. The false fire alarm is even worse - that's a felony, and the sentence would run between one and three years imprisonment.
For a student over 17 years of age, the penalties are even stiffer, since the violator would be subject to adult criminal law, not the juvenile court system. In that case, a student phoning a false bomb threat could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and sent to jail for a term not to exceed one year. The false fire alarm is even worse - that's a felony, and the sentence would run between one and three years imprisonment.