Dane County partners with crime victims reporting group

Inside to separate essays Jennifer and James Crumbley earlier this year First parents to be convicted in US history on a charge of involuntary manslaughter for a mass shooting committed by his children.

each on April 9 Sentenced to 10-15 years in prisonmaximum penalty for the crime. Prosecutors defend Crumbleys Emergency warning signs were ignored Their son, Ethan, had violent thoughts and his parents had access to the gun he used to kill four classmates and wound seven others at his school in November 2021, he said.

Accordingly Marshall Projectlegal observers said The facts of the case are unusualbut many people still wonder whether this sets a precedent for the “slippery slope.” more parents could be criminally charged for what their children have done. “I just don’t have a lot of confidence in using prosecutorial discretion to pick and choose cases like this,” Northern Illinois University law professor Evan Bernick told Al Jazeera. he said. “Once you have a hammer—and it is definitely a hammer—anything can look like a nail.”

Some think it is alarming that even though the Crumbley family is white, criminal charges are rising against parents for their children’s actions. It disproportionately affects black parents or poor parents. That’s the concern in Tennessee, where some lawmakers recently introduced a bill. Parents fined up to $1,000 if a child commits multiple offenses.

At least one other recent shooting incident also led to new criminal charges against adults. Prosecutors in Newport News, Virginia blamed former assistant principal with gross child neglect. The accusations came later grand jury report concluded He said school administrators ignored four warnings from students and staff that a 6-year-old boy had a gun at school. The boy shot his teacher the same day. As in the Crumbley case, the charge against a school administrator believed to be the first of its kindand prosecutors said on Thursday More accusations may come.

The child’s mother, Deja Taylor, He was sentenced to two years in prison for child neglect in December. The state sentence was in addition to a separate sentence 21 months for federal crimes regarding his purchase of the gun used.

Shooting at Newport News elementary school A test scenario for a legal question It’s an indication of how young a child is to face criminal charges. prosecutors Since you said they wouldn’t charge the childbut legally nothing stopped them from doing so. Last month, Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin vetoed a bill This would restrict prosecutors from bringing charges against children under 11, in part because it harms public safety.

A. a group of former and current prosecutors In an opinion article in USA Today, he agreed with Youngkin’s decision, arguing: “A child who can barely read needs treatment, not incarceration, and there are countless ways to address accountability while also providing that child with the support he or she needs to develop and grow without intervening in a court of law.” hall or prosecutor’s office.”

Maryland is also roiling over issues of parents being charged for their children’s actions and how too young a teenager is to be prosecuted. There, State lawmakers pass a bill This will allow prosecutors Charge 10 year olds with some crimes. previous border He was 13 years old. Movement is coming while some crimes, especially car theft, are on the riseIt is claimed that it was committed by young people. Also follows a couple high profile mass shootings last year it involved teenagers. But this measure also comes with a backdrop. overall decline in youth crime in the state in the last decade.

Just a bunch of kids According to Brenda Wintrode of The Baltimore Banner, every year in Maryland people are charged with crimes under the new law; That’s what advocates on both sides of the law point out. Opponents of the law said so no need to address something so unusual. Critics also argue that involvement in the juvenile justice system in general, create more crime rather than blocking it. Supporters of the law said that the law would not cause any significant problems because the number of cases was low. increase in the number of children is drawn into the system.

Children aren’t the only ones in Maryland who may begin to be drawn into the system more frequently. Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates made an announcement earlier this month highlighting the arrests of 20 young people accused of crimes. He noted the mention of “parental responsibility”, warning: “From now on, if you are found to have contributed to the delinquency of a minor, my office will seek to charge you and hold you accountable.”

this story produced by Marshall Projectis a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to creating and sustaining a national sense of urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system and is reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.