NY bill would allow police to make more arrests for threatening schools

A proposed law could lead to more arrests for threatening violence against schools.

News 12 Staff

Jun 4, 2022, 2:40 AM

Updated 915 days ago

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A proposed law could lead to more arrests for threatening violence against schools.
The specific bill would broaden the definition of what constitute a threat that can be punished criminally.
Currently, only a small portion of threats against schools are resulting in arrests.
Since May 24, there have been 49 threats against Long Island schools, but only three have resulted in arrests.
Under the current law, prosecutors have to show that making a terroristic threat is imminent. A vague statement or social media post is not enough to make an arrest.
"Sometimes you shouldn't have to wait to get to that point," says State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, who proposed the new law. "There's a very thin line between about to do it and done."
Kaminsky's bill called, Making a Threat of Mass Harm, would allow police to arrest people for less specific threats.
Jericho School Superintendent Hank Grishman says the bill could act as a deterrent against future threats and make schools safer.
"The kinds of threats we have received over the years, very often those threats are from middle school kids, high school kids, who are in their minds horsing around, without understanding the seriousness of those threats," Grishman says.
The bill has passed through both houses in Albany with bi-partisan support.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to sign it into law next week.