Why don’t parents file more police reports?

[Anonymous]

Excuse my ignorance but if a child/teen is injured or seriously harassed in school, why don’t parents file police reports? Is there some rule against this or is it just convention? Or do people just not want to escalate? Or are police reports filed and nothing happens? If I can’t trust a school to protect my child or at least expel someone violent, isn’t it appropriate to call police? If my kid was at an ice skating rink and was beaten up, I would call 911. Thanks for any perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Filed against who? The school? Other parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excuse my ignorance but if a child/teen is injured or seriously harassed in school, why don’t parents file police reports? Is there some rule against this or is it just convention? Or do people just not want to escalate? Or are police reports filed and nothing happens? If I can’t trust a school to protect my child or at least expel someone violent, isn’t it appropriate to call police? If my kid was at an ice skating rink and was beaten up, I would call 911. Thanks for any perspectives.

Some do, I’ve seen it. But it’s rare. I suspect it’s because they don’t want to go through the hassle or waste police manpower over a punch in the stomach.

[Anonymous]

Trying to avoid publicity?

[Anonymous]

What would you hope to achieve with a police report? An indictment and conviction? That’s overkill in most cases as well as unachievable. Demonstrating that a child intended to significantly harm another child is also difficult. If you’re the one to make the report, you also become known in a small school community for taking the nuclear option.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago, they probably expected the schools to handle it by expelling the student.

Now, they probably know the school will do nothing but don’t want to call the cops because they don’t want to be cancelled.

But I agree with you. If someone assaults my kids, I’m pressing charges. I don’t care if it happens at school or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excuse my ignorance but if a child/teen is injured or seriously harassed in school, why don’t parents file police reports? Is there some rule against this or is it just convention? Or do people just not want to escalate? Or are police reports filed and nothing happens? If I can’t trust a school to protect my child or at least expel someone violent, isn’t it appropriate to call police? If my kid was at an ice skating rink and was beaten up, I would call 911. Thanks for any perspectives.

You would do what? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago, they probably expected the schools to handle it by expelling the student.

Now, they probably know the school will do nothing but don’t want to call the cops because they don’t want to be cancelled.

But I agree with you. If someone assaults my kids, I’m pressing charges. I don’t care if it happens at school or not.

What do you consider assault? When a kindergartner bites another kid? When a 3rd grader hits another kid because he didn’t like the way a game ended? When a middle schooler trips a kid in the hallway as a joke? When another kid gets jealous of a toy or something and pushes them down to get it? I’ve seen all of these things and I wouldn’t consider any one of them assault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excuse my ignorance but if a child/teen is injured or seriously harassed in school, why don’t parents file police reports? Is there some rule against this or is it just convention? Or do people just not want to escalate? Or are police reports filed and nothing happens? If I can’t trust a school to protect my child or at least expel someone violent, isn’t it appropriate to call police? If my kid was at an ice skating rink and was beaten up, I would call 911. Thanks for any perspectives.

There is a process for expelling students. We just had a child expelled because of violence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago, they probably expected the schools to handle it by expelling the student.

Now, they probably know the school will do nothing but don’t want to call the cops because they don’t want to be cancelled.

But I agree with you. If someone assaults my kids, I’m pressing charges. I don’t care if it happens at school or not.

What do you consider assault? When a kindergartner bites another kid? When a 3rd grader hits another kid because he didn’t like the way a game ended? When a middle schooler trips a kid in the hallway as a joke? When another kid gets jealous of a toy or something and pushes them down to get it? I’ve seen all of these things and I wouldn’t consider any one of them assault.

Pretty sure this is about the Loudoun rapes. And yes if my kid was raped I would file a police report.

[Anonymous]

Because what happens in school does not usually rise to the level of a crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago, they probably expected the schools to handle it by expelling the student.

Now, they probably know the school will do nothing but don’t want to call the cops because they don’t want to be cancelled.

But I agree with you. If someone assaults my kids, I’m pressing charges. I don’t care if it happens at school or not.

What do you consider assault? When a kindergartner bites another kid? When a 3rd grader hits another kid because he didn’t like the way a game ended? When a middle schooler trips a kid in the hallway as a joke? When another kid gets jealous of a toy or something and pushes them down to get it? I’ve seen all of these things and I wouldn’t consider any one of them assault.

No
No
Maybe
Maybe

Depend on force, age appropriateness, injury, remorse, etc.

At high school level I’d say most things are assault unless they’re a genuine accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because what happens in school does not usually rise to the level of a crime.

I would disagree. Kids in school are harassed, bullied, and assaulted the same way you see adults harassed on crowded streets, thoroughfares, and public transportation. All of those get police reports.

A) People just don't want the possibility of their sons being investigated by police - especially considering the amount of witnesses and CCTV could easily get a conviction if that was sought.

B) Both the victims parents and the bullies parents know that if they've bought in a certain school system they're stuck there for 18 years. Your kids circle of bullies and friends and their parents will be with you for years and years. Unless you move - which most people won't do unless the situation is so critical that their kid is in mortal danger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago, they probably expected the schools to handle it by expelling the student.

Now, they probably know the school will do nothing but don’t want to call the cops because they don’t want to be cancelled.

But I agree with you. If someone assaults my kids, I’m pressing charges. I don’t care if it happens at school or not.

What do you consider assault? When a kindergartner bites another kid? When a 3rd grader hits another kid because he didn’t like the way a game ended? When a middle schooler trips a kid in the hallway as a joke? When another kid gets jealous of a toy or something and pushes them down to get it? I’ve seen all of these things and I wouldn’t consider any one of them assault.

Pretty sure this is about the Loudoun rapes. And yes if my kid was raped I would file a police report.

And one was filed that day.

[Anonymous]

The police?

The police should be defunded. And never, ever allowed near a school.