The Law and You

Laws to ensure safety at school 1. Carrying, possessing, or controlling any WEAPON (on school property, in a school safety zone, on a school vehicle); 2. Weapons Include: pistol, revolver (missile propellant), dirk, bowie knife, switchblade, ballistic knife (3” or more), straight-edge razor, spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack, flailing instrument or fighting chain (nun-chuck), throwing star, oriental dart, stun gun, tazer.

Zero Tolerance Most schools now have a “Zero Tolerance” Policy regarding Weapons: No Exceptions; No Excuses. Rationale: Even a weapon possessed without any intent to harm could still fall into the hands of a violent person and thus threaten the lives and safety of innocent students.

Drugs Illegal Drugs on School Property or within a School Safety Zone are prosecuted as Felonies; Even if possession of the substance would otherwise be a misdemeanor outside the School Safety Zone (i.e. less than an ounce of marijuana).

DID YOU KNOW that if you give a prescription drug to a friend, you can both be charged with a crime?

Violent Crime Violent crimes committed within School Safety Zones carry Mandatory Minimum Sentences: Aggravated Battery, for example, which is ordinarily punishable, at the discretion of the Sentencing Judge, anywhere from 1 to 20 years, carries a Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 5 Years, and not one day less.

Curfew Laws in Georgia For children under 18, Georgia law says 12 am week ends 11 pm weeknights It shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places in the Town.

Vandalism Vandalism is the term for crimes such as graffiti, keying cars, toppling headstones, and virtually any other activity that causes damages to private or public property. Possible Penalties Repairing the damaged property Paying for someone else to repair the damaged property Fines (often of $500 or more) Expulsion from school Counseling Detention in a juvenile facility Community service Up to 3 years of probation In some cases, even time in jail