Pranks and False Threats at Schools Carry Heavy Penalties, Michigan Attorney General Says

Students, parents and teachers across the state are concerned about school safety. Worries about gun violence in the wake of the Oxford High School mass shooting have state legislators debating the best way to go about it. 

While solutions to that problem is a political flashpoint, one thing that could help ease the minds of everyone is an end to a rash of fake copycat threats. 

“A kid that decides to post threatening messages on social media about bringing a weapon to school as a prank or decides to get school canceled by calling it a fake bomb threat could face felony charges and prison time.” –Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says false threats of terrorism will not be tolerated. Teens who make threats will still face jail time if convicted.   

“A kid that decides to post threatening messages on social media about bringing a weapon to school as a prank or decides to get school canceled by calling it a fake bomb threat could face felony charges and prison time,” says Nessel in a video posted this week. 

“Communicating a threat of terrorism is a 20-year felony in Michigan. Calling it a bomb threat can result in a person being charged with a four-year. Felony malicious use of a telecommunications device carries up to a six-month jail term.”  

Nessel says the age of people who make threats will not lessen the punishment.  

“The old adage of kids will be kids does not apply when our schools, students, teachers and staff are threatened. Pranks and idle threats will be taken seriously and will have serious consequences.”  

Over a dozen students and at least one teacher in Metro Detroit have been charged with making false threats over the past six weeks.   

The alleged Oxford High School shooter has a court date on Friday.