Emma Jones - Should Bullying Be a Crime?

Published in 2020 by KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC 353 3rd Avenue Suite 255 New York, NY 10010 Copyright 2020 KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer. Designer: Deanna Paternostro Editor: Katie Kawa Photo credits: Cover SpeedKingz/. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Jones, Emma. Title: Should bullying be a crime? / Emma Jones.

Description: New York: KidHaven Publishing, 2020. | Series: Points of view | Includes glossary and index. Identifiers: ISBN 9781534532076 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781534531956 (library bound) | ISBN 9781534532137 (6 pack) | ISBN 9781534532014 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Bullying--Juvenile literature. | Bullying--Prevention--Juvenile literature. | Cyberbullying--Juvenile literature. | Victims of bullying--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC BF637.B85 J66 2020 | DDC 302.343--dc23 Printed in the United States of America Some of the images in this book illustrate individuals who are models. The depictions do not imply actual situations or events. CPSIA compliance information: Batch #BW20KL: For further information contact Greenhaven Publishing LLC, New York, New York at 1-844-317-7404. Please visit our website, www.greenhavenpublishing.com. For a free color catalog of all our high-quality books, call toll free 1-844-317-7404 or fax 1-844-317-7405. CONTENTS A Big PROBLEM Most people agree that bullying is a big problem.

However, different people have different points of view about how to solve, or fix, this problem. One idea is to make bullying a crime, which means bulliesand sometimes their parents or guardianscould be by having to pay fines or spend time in jail. Some people believe this could help stop bullying, but other people believe it could cause more problems. Do you think bullying should be a crime? Before you decide, its helpful to learn all the facts so you can have an informed, or educated, opinion. Know the Facts! Bullying can happen online too. Most people want to keep kids healthy, happy, and safe. Most people want to keep kids healthy, happy, and safe.

They just have different ideas about how to do it. Different LAWS In the United States, there are many kinds of laws. Federal laws apply to the whole country because they come from the national government. State and local laws apply to smaller groups of people. Because theres no federal law against bullying, states and local governments have come up with their own anti-bullying laws. Some of these laws require schools to report and deal with bullying when it happens.

Other laws have set up to prevent bullying, or stop it before it starts. In some cases, laws have made certain kinds of bullying, such as cyberbullying, a crime. Know the Facts! All 50 U.S. states have passed laws that address bullying. Different parts of the United States each have their own anti-bullying laws. This has led to many debates about which kinds of laws work best to stop bullying.

When Is It Already A CRIME? Bullying can take many different forms and can happen for many different reasons. Certain kinds of bullying are already considered crimes because of how and why they happen. For example, some bullies use violence, or harm done to a persons body. Those actions can be considered a crime. Even if the doesnt actually get hurt, the bully can still be punished. Bullies also often threaten people with violence, which means they make their victims think theyre going to hurt them.

Making true threats of violence is a crime. This includes threats made in person, through text messages, or online. Know the Facts! The federal government has laws that protect people from being bullied because of their race, their belief system, their sex, any disabilities they may have, or the country they come from. If bullying is happening for these reasons, schools are required by law to stop it. If a bully is threatening to hurt you or someone you know, talk to a trusted adult. This kind of bullying is against the law, and its important to get help from school officials and the police.

Private and PERSONAL Violence and threats of violence arent the only actions that are considered bullying. Spreading harmful lies about people, saying hurtful things to them, and keeping them out of a group on purpose are all examples of bullying too. Some people think these things should also be considered crimes. Others believe these actions arent as harmful as violence, so they shouldnt be treated the same way. They dont think someone who calls a person names should pay a fine or go to jail. They see this kind of bullying as something schools should handle instead of the police.

Know the Facts! In order for an action to be considered bullying, it must be intentionalthe bully must mean to do it to cause harm and repetitive, which means there must be a pattern of harmful actions over a period of time. The bully must also be in a position of power over their victim. Some people see bullying as a private and personal issue for parents and school officials to deal with instead of the government. Serious EFFECTS People who support making bullying a crimealso known as criminalizing bullyingbelieve that all bullying is health problems and sleep problems. Victims of bullying are also more likely to do poorly in school because of the problems theyre facing. They might even drop out of school because they cant deal with the bullying anymore.

Many people think these serious effects call for serious for bullies. They believe people who cause this kind of lasting harm should be charged with a crime. Know the Facts! One common mental health problem for victims of bullying is anxiety, which is a state of very strong worry that makes it hard to deal with daily life. Another is depression. Someone with depression generally feels sad, hopeless, or empty and has no interest in things they once enjoyed. People who believe bullying should be a crime are often adults whove watched their children deal with the harmful effects of bullying.