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Should students be held legally responsible for bullying if it resulted in the victim's death?

Should we just focus on prevention and the protection of victims, or should the bullies themselves face the force of the law if their actions lead to loss of life?

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    Best Answer (Chosen By Asker):

    growwhereyouglow - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by growwhereyouglow Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:02PM

    I do believe they should be held responsible. Real actions, real consequences. That being said, they have developing minds at that age, so I would want them reviewed over a period of time during their sentence. Should they get a life sentence with eligibility for parole? That seems fair as you can monitor their rehabilitation. To get off easily, knowing they bullied a weaker person to death seems highly unfair and sends a continued message that, 'this is all that will happen to you'. It should be taken very seriously. However, by way of bullying if it resulted in a death, that is a very severe act. To set an example would send a message that this is serious and has serious consequences. However, since the weapon of choice is cruelty, it's so subjective and therefor would only result in involuntary manslaughter. Since most are underage, juvenile detention seems beyond 'soft' for that type of crime. It seems like with the information we have today, knowing full well what cruelty and bullying can do, it should be looked at as a weapon. Like a kid that picks up a handgun and shoots someone, it seems like bullying should indeed be looked at in the same way and the consequences should coincide with that.

    [ Reply ] | Like (3)

  1. growwhereyouglow - 36-40 years old - female

    Reply by growwhereyouglow Oct 21st, 2012 at 2:02PM

    Thanks for best answer :}

    Like (1)

  2. LovesLaborsLost - 18-21 years old - female

    Reply by LovesLaborsLost Oct 21st, 2012 at 3:45PM

    But if this is the case, you also have to have standards for bullying. What is criminal bullying vs. just cruelty? Should I be sent to prison because some girl killed herself over me saying, "That skirt is the ugliest effing thing I have ever seen"? And in most cases, more than one child is in on the bullying. If Amanda, Lila, and Jenny are bullying Penelope, and Francine says ONE thing, is she indicted with Amanda, Lila, and Jenny? And what about non-lethal consequences? What if those girls bullied Penelope, but Penelope did not kill herself, or even harm herself. Then do they get charged? (in which case, they would be charged based on the strength of the victim) And if they do get charged, with what? Unfortunately, I think bullying is too hard to actually regulate. There is a reason it has yet to be regulated. You're speaking too idealistically.

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    7 more replies

16 Answers to "Should students be held legally responsible for bullying if it resulted in the victim's death?"

  1. LovesLaborsLost - 18-21 years old - female

    Posted by LovesLaborsLost Oct 21st, 2012 at 3:57PM

    I think we know my opinion based on my other comments. It would be nice, but I don't think it can happen adequately. Kids these days are too exposed and you cannot adequately determine who the bully is and why. Also, you're asking about students - why are we not charging the adults for neglect? What about teachers who see bullying going on but don't do anything about it? Or the parents who don't bother to talk to their kids and figure out if their kids are depressed?

    All that seems to matter here is the blame. Where does the BLAME end? This is all AFTER the bullying has occurred that we decide to get upset about it. I agree with everyone else that we need to focus on prevention, because no amount of BLAME or consequences is going to bring a girl back after she has killed herself. And yes, legislation can be used for prevention, but it can also be used TO bully. It can leave a lot of bodies in its wake. We need to focus on educating and loving our children so that they know they have somewhere to turn. Focus on the victim, not the alleged perpetrators.

    Like (2)

  2. dlkajslkdfjsadl - 22-25 years old

    Posted by dlkajslkdfjsadl Oct 29th, 2012 at 10:34PM

    What about victims of bullying that have become murderers themselves???

    Like (1)

  3. atadir - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by atadir Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:59PM

    the bad guys should face the music for their actions, but not for the bad choices their victim makes.
    ...
    suicide is the victim's decision.
    ...
    if i dump my girlfriend for no good reason, and she pulls the plug, should i go to jail?
    if i get an F on my homework and kill myself, should the teacher go to jail?

    Like (1)

  4. heartandsoul555 - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by heartandsoul555 Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:22PM

    Yes

    Like (1)

  5. wuliheron - 51-55 years old

    Posted by wuliheron Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:13PM

    There's an epidemic of bullying in the workplace, including by bosses. Unless you are suggesting it's a case of do-as-we-say-and-not-as-we-do I don't see the point.

    Like (1)

  6. Paschar - 61-65 years old - male

    Posted by Paschar Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:05PM

    According to Juv Court system they are held responcible for any violent actions .

    Like (1)

  7. donotfollowme - 26-30 years old - female

    Posted by donotfollowme Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:02PM

    anyone for that matter

    Like (1)

  8. hoosiers512 - 18-21 years old - female

    Posted by hoosiers512 Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:02PM

    We should do both because some would just ignore the rules and have their way with others so yes, they should be made to face the consequences for their actions.

    Like (1)

  9. luscious36ds - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by luscious36ds Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:01PM

    yes!

    Like (1)

  10. Classicality7 - 56-60 years old - female

    Posted by Classicality7 Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:00PM

    No, not if we are talking about bullies who are still children themselves! I speak as one who was severely bullied as a child and considered suicide often. Bullying is sad and it is wrong, but there is always more to the story than that last incident before the suicide.

    Like (1)

  11. Janeybird75 - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by Janeybird75 Oct 21st, 2012 at 12:59PM

    Yes if it is proven then they should be charged with manslaughter

    Like (1)

  12. Mwood829 - 18-21 years old - male

    Reply by Mwood829 Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:04PM

    If they were held legally liable for the death of the victim, what degree of homicide would the perpetrator be charged with?

    Like (1)

  13. Janeybird75 - 36-40 years old - female

    Reply by Janeybird75 Oct 21st, 2012 at 1:08PM

    In Britain I would expect them to be sentenced to 3 or 4 years.

    Like (1)

    1 more reply
  14. xylocainium - 22-25 years old

    Posted by xylocainium Oct 21st, 2012 at 12:58PM

    they knew what they were doing and i think it makes sense for them to face the law

    Like (1)

  15. LovesLaborsLost - 18-21 years old - female

    Reply by LovesLaborsLost Oct 21st, 2012 at 3:49PM

    Can you prove they knew what they were doing? Can you prove they knew that they were causing a person to SERIOUSLY consider suicide? And can you tell me who "they" are? Who do you consider the bully? Every single person who has ever said anything negative to the victim? Or just the people who say the most? How do you judge that?

    Like (1)

  16. xylocainium - 22-25 years old

    Reply by xylocainium Oct 21st, 2012 at 4:52PM

    can you prove that they didnt know what they were doing? Can you prove that they didnt know that they were causing a person to seriously consider suicide..and do you seriously dont know who 'they' are..there has never been a positive outcome of bullying, whether its mild or severe..whether in any form, its an abuse to the victim..

    Like (1)

    6 more replies
  17. CRD1983 - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by CRD1983 Oct 21st, 2012 at 12:57PM

    Yep. That should be something to motivate prevention. You will be held criminally liable for it. It's just like murder. Especially if the person bullied commits suicide.

    Like (1)

  18. LovesLaborsLost - 18-21 years old - female

    Reply by LovesLaborsLost Oct 21st, 2012 at 3:50PM

    What happens if the person bullied does NOT commit suicide? How far do we go in charging bullies? What if I was bullied and I did not hurt myself in any way? Do my bullies still get charged? How do you determine who the bullies are? No one's nice to me, no one likes me, everyone says something mean at SOME point - who's the bully? Is it just the people who do it most often? So the people who bully occasionally get off scott free?

    Like (1)

  19. Sellry - 41-45 years old - female

    Posted by Sellry Oct 21st, 2012 at 12:56PM

    YES they should but I also agree with Tamarite and focusing on prevention would be the better way to go.

    Like (1)

  20. LovesLaborsLost - 18-21 years old - female

    Reply by LovesLaborsLost Oct 21st, 2012 at 3:51PM

    I agree that prevention is the way to go. Bullying itself is far too difficult to regulate and I'm not sure it properly can be.

    Like (1)

  21. 1sabre - 56-60 years old - male

    Posted by 1sabre Oct 21st, 2012 at 12:56PM

    Yes, the individuals should be held accountable for their actions.

    Like (1)

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