Juvenile court already has some programs to educate students found guilty of harassing others.
Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-CostelloCHICOPEE – The School Committee is asking Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni to create a rehabilitation program designed for those found guilty of bullying.
A year ago state lawmakers adopted an anti-bullying law that calls for all schools to have bullying prevention programs and requires all principals to take appropriate disciplinary action and notify parents of the victim and the aggressor in a case of bullying.
Principals must also notify police if they believe the bullying is so severe it is criminal.
But even if a student is found guilty of breaking the law, the court has no rehabilitation program that a judge can require the violator to attend. For other criminals there are rehabilitation courses, such as anger management classes frequently assigned to people found guilty of assault or driving school classes for those found guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol, said School Committee member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello, who also works as a probation officer.
“In regards to bullying and harassment there is no program,” Pniak-Costello said.
The proposal comes after five South Hadley teens pleaded guilty to harassing freshman Phoebe Prince, who later committed suicide in 2010. The five admitted misdemeanor charges, mostly criminal harassment, and were mostly sentenced to some term of community service and probation.
Fellow probation officers and others are now talking about the lack of a program so Pniak-Costello said she believed the School Committee should take the lead in asking for one.
Members passed the proposal to request the Hampden district attorney develop a program in a 12-0 vote.
“I think it is a good, positive idea and informally we have been trying to do something like that,” Mastroianni said.
There are already some programs run through juvenile court that students found guilty of harassing others are required to attend. The Probation Department also has many programs that address the underlying behavior that causes bullying, he said.
Bullying encompasses violation of different laws such as simple assault and battery or harassment so it is not as simple as creating one educational program, he said.
“Because this continues to evolve, the Massachusetts’ district attorneys offices have had input on this to find out what is the most effective way to not only deal with the victims of bullying but the perpetrators as well,” Mastroianni said.