Missouri residents will face the new year with new laws and one of which will make school fights among children a basis for the filing of serious criminal cases. Under the new law, students involved in bullying or in school fighting will not only be slapped with a suspension but can be held liable for felony charges, which carry a penalty of imprisonment of up to four years.
Some legislators, however, claim that nothing has really changed as school fights are not specifically addressed by the new law. Instead, the new language of the law has changed the views of the state on assaults, which could affect students who are arrested by police officers based in schools. Rep. Elijah Haahr said the fines on felonies have always existed.
Even though the new law will be applicable to students who are 17 years old and above beginning Jan. 1, 2017, Fox4KC reported that there is no telling if prosecutors will actually charge the student. But this could be a useful tool to discourage bullies in school and could also protect potential victims of bullying. Civil rights advocates, however, are opposing the new law as it only criminalizes children.
St. Louis County's Hazelwood School District has already sent a letter to parents warning them that school fights can now be considered as Class E felonies, which according to Huffington Post, were only previously considered as misdemeanors. Ferguson-Florissant, another school, also released a video to explain the changes in the law.
"If two students are fighting and one child is injured, the student who caused the injury may be charged with a felony," the school district explained. "Student(s) who are caught fighting in school, bus or on school grounds may now be charged with a felony (no matter the age or grade level), if this assault is witnessed by one of the School Resource Officers/police officers (SRO) or if the SRO/local law enforcement officials have to intervene."
As per CBS News, a student who causes harassment and emotional distress can be guilty of bullying and can be charged with felony. With the new law, a simple fight can be a serious mark in the student's criminal record. But school officials assured parents that they do not want to punish children unnecessarily, saying they would just impose discipline in schools.
