Bullying is Juvenile
Six high school students in Massachusetts are being charged with bullying a classmate, 15 year-old Phoebe Prince. Prince was an Irish immigrant and was a freshman at South Hadley High School. She committed suicide by hanging herself in January after being bullied relentlessly for more than three months by her classmates.
The first three students being charged appeared in juvenile court on Thursday, September 23, 2010. Ashley Longe, Sharon Velasquez, and Flannery Mullins are being charged with harassment and with a violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. Mullins and Velasquez are also being charged with stalking.
According to prosecutors, Prince was targeted and bullied for having a relationship with Mullins’ boyfriend, Austin Renaud. Longe allegedly taunted Prince with slurs during school and as Prince was walking home from school, Longe allegedly threw an aluminum can at her. This was just hours before Prince committed suicide. Mullins allegedly threatened Prince in a high school restroom, sent her threatening text messages, and posted inappropriate comments about her on Facebook. Velasquez allegedly taunted Prince with slurs at school and exhibited violent behavior toward her.
Massachusetts does have a law against bullying which includes harassment and stalking. The anti-bullying laws include training all school employees on the proper procedures to prevent and handle bullying at school. It states that all bullying must be reported and investigated, and that anti-bullying curriculum must be taught in all schools.
According to the Massachusetts anti-bullying law, if convicted, the students could be facing up to a $1000 fine and up to 5 years in a state prison.
Prosecutors are expected to have up to 50 witnesses to testify against the students. All three girls have pleaded not guilty. The case is expected to go to trial in 2011.
