Today’s juveniles have grown up in an internet world. The internet has existed their whole lives, many don’t remember a time before Facebook, Twitter or other popular social media networks. From the moment they were born they were immersed in a world of cellphone, tablets and computers. Unlike older generations, this technology has become second nature to them. They understand and use it better than some adults.
While this has meant good things for many of these children, it has also had some negative consequences. The internet has become a weapon for some children in the form of cyberbullying. According to the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, cyberbullying is the process of using technology and the internet to bully another person. This bullying can include harassment, threats, racial and ethnic slurs and other forms of humiliation.
Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be carried out no matter where the victim or aggressor are. It does not just happen at school or during school hours. Furthermore, it often happens as children are unsupervised on the internet.
Not only is this an emotional problem for some students, it can result in legal problems. Law enforcement agencies are taking cyberbullying very seriously. New Jersey legislators are working on creating legislation to punish those who carry out cyberbullying. Law enforcement agencies and educators are also working on addressing the issue. Therefore, cyberbullying could lead to criminal charges for juvenile crimes.
High school students and their parents should take all juvenile crime charges seriously. Even things like their actions online could have a major impact on the direction of the child’s life. An attorney can help people understand all their options when facing criminal charges.