COLORADO SPRINGS POLICECOLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT

Officer Mike Laurich Officer Mike Laurich – School – School Resource OfficerResource Officer

Bullying Matters

Our Commitment

Is to ensure an emotionally and physically safe environment in our school community. We will do our best to stop any behavior that is threatening, harassing, bullying, or dangerous. If any student, parent, or staff member feels threatened, upset, or endangered by someone’s behavior, that person has both the right and the responsibility to speak out.

GoalsGoals

A school-wide effort to raise awareness A school-wide effort to raise awareness and increase reporting about bullyingand increase reporting about bullying

Prevent and reduce bullying behaviorsPrevent and reduce bullying behaviors

Change in school climate and what’s Change in school climate and what’s viewed as acceptable behaviorviewed as acceptable behavior

Identify appropriate interventionsIdentify appropriate interventions

Every student has the right not to be Every student has the right not to be hurt and the right to learn in a safe hurt and the right to learn in a safe environmentenvironment

Affects of Bullying

Bullying has a negative effect on student interactions within a school and creates an atmosphere of fear and frustration among students

Bullying reduces students’ abilities to learn and feel safe in their environment

Bullying is often perceived as a harmless rite of passage that all children will experience

Bullying Could Result In

MissingSchool

WeaponCarrying

Bullying

Fighting

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6th

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10th

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Grade Sector

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Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school during the previous 6 months, by grade and school sector: 2003

How common is bullying?How common is bullying?

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2003

Bullying: By Location

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2003

Bullying and School Violence?Bullying and School Violence?

US Secret Service and US Dept. of EducationUS Secret Service and US Dept. of Education Safe School Initiative Report (2002)Safe School Initiative Report (2002)

Studied 37 incidents of school Studied 37 incidents of school violence, involving 41 attackers violence, involving 41 attackers (1974-2000)(1974-2000)

3/4 of attackers in school shooting 3/4 of attackers in school shooting occurrences felt bullied, mistreated, occurrences felt bullied, mistreated, threatened, attacked, or injured by threatened, attacked, or injured by others prior to the incidentothers prior to the incident

Many of the attackers were Many of the attackers were characterized as “loners,” and were characterized as “loners,” and were disliked by most of the “popular” disliked by most of the “popular” studentsstudents

Many had considered suicideMany had considered suicide

Seung-Hui

Cho

Columbine

Study of Children who BulliedStudy of Children who Bullied

60% of boys who were bullies in 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one middle school had at least one criminal conviction by age 24.criminal conviction by age 24.

40% had three or more convictions.40% had three or more convictions.

Bullies were 4 times as likely as peers Bullies were 4 times as likely as peers to have multiple convictions.to have multiple convictions.

(Olweus, 1993)(Olweus, 1993)

Who Are Bullies?Who Are Bullies?

Children who bully Children who bully typically like to feel typically like to feel powerful and in controlpowerful and in control

Their behavior occurs Their behavior occurs repeatedly over timerepeatedly over time

Children who bully are Children who bully are often defiant toward often defiant toward authority figures and authority figures and are apt to break rules are apt to break rules

The Victims of Bullying?The Victims of Bullying?

Children who are bullied often Children who are bullied often feel insecure and isolatedfeel insecure and isolated

Are unlikely to defend Are unlikely to defend themselvesthemselves

Feel school is an unsafe place Feel school is an unsafe place and are likely to miss more days and are likely to miss more days of school. As a result their of school. As a result their education is negatively affected.education is negatively affected.

Being bullied is NOT your fault, don't blame yourselfBeing bullied is NOT your fault, don't blame yourself

So What is Bullying?So What is Bullying?

Punching, shoving and other Punching, shoving and other acts that hurt people physicallyacts that hurt people physically

Spreading bad rumors about Spreading bad rumors about

people people

Keeping certain people out of a Keeping certain people out of a "group" "group"

Teasing people in a mean way Teasing people in a mean way

Getting certain people to "gang Getting certain people to "gang up" on others up" on others

Ethno-cultural based bullying: Ethno-cultural based bullying: any physical or verbal behavior any physical or verbal behavior used to hurt another person used to hurt another person because of his or her ethnicity because of his or her ethnicity (culture, color or religion) (culture, color or religion)

Bullying is about fear and intimidationBullying is about fear and intimidation

Three Forms of Bullying

Physical:

the most commonly known form; includes hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, and taking personal belongings

Three Forms of Bullying (cont)

Verbal: includes taunting,

malicious teasing, name- calling, and making threats

Three Forms of Bullying (cont)

Psychological:

involves spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, excluding others, extortion, and intimidation

Cyber Bullying Using the Internet, Using the Internet,

mobile phones or mobile phones or other cyber other cyber technology:technology:

Send mean text, e-mail, or instant messages

Post nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites

Use someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone

MySpace / FacebookMySpace / Facebook

MySpace / FacebookMySpace / Facebook

Both are committed to assist law enforcement in investigating and identifying those involved in electronic crime and other crime with any electronic component or device.

MySpace / FaceBook etc.MySpace / FaceBook etc.

Information collected from Information collected from MySpace, FaceBook, and MySpace, FaceBook, and others include:others include:

IP logs - IP logs - Example IP Address Example IP Address (67.134.143.254) (67.134.143.254)

Name provided by userName provided by user Date profile created with dates and Date profile created with dates and

times of login times of login E-mail address & Zip Code provided E-mail address & Zip Code provided

by userby user Private Messages and Chat LogsPrivate Messages and Chat Logs Login date stamps are retained for up Login date stamps are retained for up

to 90 days after account deletionto 90 days after account deletion

Bystander – Problem or Solution?

Bullying may be fueled by the behavior of onlookers:

1. actively encouraging bullying incidents2. silence implies approval, or at least

tolerance

When someone is willing to say “that is wrong,” they can make a difference

Support the victim, either directly or by getting a teacher

If bystanders act to discourage bullying behaviors, there is a good chance (50%) that the bullying will stop

Most bullying takes place when bystanders are present

Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig (2001)

Students who are neither victims nor bullies

can take action in many different ways:

Refuse to be a “bystander”

Be a friend - help the person being hurt by inviting that person to participate in your school activities

Speak out - Tell the person who is bullying to STOP and report the bullying to a teacher

Resist peer pressure

Use a distraction with either the bully or the victim. Try changing the subject!

Role of the Bystander

Bullying: School Consequences

SCHOOLADMINISTRATION

VERBAL WRNG ISS

SUSPENSION EXPLUSION

Bullying: Criminal Consequences

POLICE DEPARTMENT

WRNG/MEETING WITH PARENT

COURT MEDIATION

CRIMINALSUMMONS

ARREST / DYC

Criminal Charges

Could Result In:

JAIL

Spring Creek Juvenile

Detention Center

Criminal Charges (Colorado Revised Statutes)

Possible Charges Related to Bullying:

Harassment Telephone Harassment Accessory to Crime Menacing Reckless Endangerment Assault Inciting a Riot Criminal Extortion Robbery False Imprisonment Kidnapping

If You Are Being Bullied?

• Don't get mad, get funny - using humor shows that you're not scared and it can diffuse the situation

• Look confident - don’t slouch or fidget, people who bully may pick on you if they think you are afraid of them

• Project confidence - hold your head up and stand up straight

• Don’t act scared - if you believe in yourself other kids will notice

If You Are Being Bullied? (cont)

• Think of things to say ahead of time, keep it short and don't say anything mean

• Don’t bring expensive things or lots of money to school

• Telling is not snitching - don't be afraid to tell an adult you trust

Who Can You Tell

• Teacher

• School Counselor

• Principal

• School Resource Officer

• Bus Driver

• School Nurse

• Parent

• Close Friend

Bullying Tips For You

• Tell an adult about the bullying and keep telling until action is taken

• In many situations ignoring has the best results, when a bully no longer gets a reaction out of you, he/she will usually move on

• Travel to school or social events in groups, don't walk alone

• Avoid the bully and locations where bullying may occur

• If you are threatened with harm, inform an adult and the police immediately

Bullying Tips (cont)

•Protect yourself — never agree to meet with a “bully” or with anyone you meet online

•Don’t open or read messages by cyber bullies

•Don’t erase messages — they may be needed to take action

•Remember, you deserve to go to school in peace, don't let a bully ruin your life

The EndThe End