Houston Juvenile Attorney James Sullivan
strongly believes that child and young adult victims that stand up to a
bully, especially in school, should be applauded, not arrested.
Bullies generally target children they
view as being weaker, smaller or socially awkward.
Children with mental
health disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, are especially
vulnerable to being bullied.
Effects of Being Bullied
According to Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed journal of the National Institute of Health,
In the aftermath of being bullied, victims may develop a variety of psychological as well as somatic symptoms, some of which may persist into adulthood. Psychological symptoms may include social difficulties, internalizing symptoms, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders (i.e., anorexia or bulimia nervosa). Somatic symptoms may include poor appetite, headaches, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
For many victims, the bullying lasts for
weeks, months and even years before the victim finally has enough and
musters up the courage to fight back. And then, instead of being
commended for standing up to the bully, the victim is often victimized
again by the school district police department which labels him the
aggressor and arrests and charges him with Assault causing bodily
injury.
The parents and grandparents of today’s
youth grew up in simpler times when fighting in school was handled by
the school, usually by paddling. School principals understood that when
victims finally stood up to bullies and fought back it is was huge for
their self-esteem and the bullies stopped picking on them.
Zero Tolerance Policies Should be Reformed
Texas’ “zero tolerance” policies should
be changed so that the victims of bullying who fight back or lash out
are not arrested and charged in court. Even psychology experts agree
that reforms need to be made. According to the American Psychological
Association Zero Tolerance Task Force,
Zero tolerance policies as applied appear to run counter to our best knowledge of child development. By changing the relationship between education and juvenile justice, zero tolerance may shift the locus of discipline from relatively inexpensive actions in the school setting to the highly costly processes of arrest and incarceration. In so doing, zero tolerance policies have created unintended consequences for students, families, and communities.
Effect of Current Laws
Unfortunately, until these zero
tolerance policies are changed, victims of bullying continue to get into
serious trouble for fighting back or lashing out. In addition to in or
out of school suspension or placement at an alternative school, these
victims frequently get charged with Assault and wind up in juvenile
district court.
A juvenile delinquency charge puts the
student at risk of a permanent juvenile record that could negatively
impact his future, such as acceptance into top universities or
enlistment in the military.
Attorney James Sullivan fights for these
students so that their future is not ruined by a juvenile or criminal
record. Sullivan defends children and young adults facing Assault
charges from all of the school districts in Harris County.
If your son or daughter is facing Assault charges in the 313th, 314th or 315th District Courts of Harris County, it is important to hire an experienced juvenile defense attorney.
James G. Sullivan and Associates
Attorney James Sullivan has been
defending children and adults accused of Assault in juvenile and
criminal courts since 1994. Sullivan is also an expert in juvenile law,
having been Certified in Juvenile law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization since 2004.
To discuss your child’s case, contact James Sullivan at 281-546-6428 for a free phone consultation.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS & HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL LAWYERS
Serving Houston, Cypress, Sugar Land, Clear Lake, Pasadena, La Porte, Missouri City, Friendswood, Richmond, Hempstead, Humble, Tomball, Bellaire, Deer Park, Katy and other communities in Harris County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.
Our Houston criminal lawyers defend clients charged with crimes in district courts and county criminal courts, including domestic violence (assault of a family member), drug possession or drug delivery, violent crimes, and juvenile delinquency.