Despite a recent surge in reports of threats and weapons on campuses in the Houston area, data from the Harris County District Attorney's Office shows no significant increase in charges filed against students this year compared to last. While some police chiefs are taking a tough stance on school threats, others worry that the current approach isn't doing enough to deter future incidents.
Alex BozarjianABC13 obtained critical data on school threats in Harris County , noting criminal charges were filed against 127 students over the last year.For weeks now, the Houston area has seen a myriad of reports from the region's schools on threats and weapons on campuses. Many wonder, are more kids being held accountable for their alleged crimes?
"They are making the choice to make these comments and therefore breaking the law," Spring Branch ISD police Chief Larry Baimbridge said. The Spring Branch ISD police chief spoke to 13 Investigates last week about on-campus crime. At the time, he said the district had at least four cases in which charges either took days to file finally or weren't filed at all by the district attorney's office.Since that story aired, things have changed.
With that in mind, ABC13 found about 127 criminal charges were filed against minors between August 2023 and now, including 85 involving weapons.So far this year, there have been about 20."When the elements of the crime are met, those charges need to be accepted then and there, and I think that sends a very powerful message to the person who committed the crime as well as anyone thinking about it," Baimbridge said.
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