12-year-old Girl Detained For 'Bullying' [VIDEO]
A 12-year-old girl in Stamford, Connecticut was allegedly arrested for bullying one of her classmates.
A parent reported to the Stamford Police Department about the constant bullying of her 13-year-old daughter almost everyday. A complaint filed Sep. 20 stated that the bullying was so intense that the victim was already contemplating suicide.
Police Officer Lt. Dietrich Hohn said the school administrators have tried to stop the bullying but when the harassment has intensified they have to call the police for assistance. The police arrested the 12-year-old "bully" girl for disorderly conduct charges.
Reports claimed that the Connecticut authorities are implementing a zero tolerance policy on bullying after what happened to Bart Polosz, 15, a high school student who shot himself after his first day in Greenwich High School.
Parents of the teenage victim told police that their daughter "couldn't really learn in that kind of environment."
The bully girl was later on released with a warning that the police will do more arrests if the bullying continues. Hohn told reporters Thursday that the arrest of the minor was completely justified.
"Obviously after what happened in Greenwich and other stories you hear about has gone to the extreme. Once we heard these allegations that she was contemplating suicide, we immediately got involved," he said.
Bullying-Related Suicides Statistics
In recent years, bullying-related suicides have increased globally. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of deaths among youths. On the average of 4,400 suicide deaths per year, there are approximately 100 suicide attempts. From these numbers, about 14 percent of secondary school students contemplated suicide and approximately 7 percent of them have attempted to kill themselves.
A study done in Britain also shows that 50 percent of suicides among the younger generation are related to school harassment.
Warning Signs
Bullied minors in school are likely to be depressed. They also withdraw from other people and lose interest in the things they do. Some bully victims experience sleeping problems and frequently talk about death or dying. They usually say they could no longer handle their problems and life would be better if they are not around.
Partnership for Violence Free Families and ACT Program Coordinator Donna Dickman notes that bullying should be strictly addressed to benefit all young people and warn the perpetrators of this violent act.