Cyberbullying – What is it?

Cyberbullying has significant social, physical and psychological impacts, which is why the Center of Disease Control considers it a public health concern. Years ago, a schoolyard bully was a student’s worst nightmare; anybody born before 1990 likely can identify with this statement. Now, there’s a second, possibly more dangerous bully; cyberbullies. Cyberbullies can be obvious, remain anonymous, create fake profiles, and can strike at all hours of the day and night on multiple platforms. With minimal effort, they can threaten, taunt, harass and humiliate their target, causing severe emotional distress that, in some instances, bullying has even led to suicide. According to board certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrists and the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death for American teenagers and young adults. Cyberbullying is considered a contributing factor. But what is cyberbullying, how does it happen and how did it grow into a phenomenon?

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology to harass, threaten, intimidate, humiliate and target victims. Cyberbullying is basically the electronic version of bullying. It occurs when an individual engages in bullying through the use of any electronic communication device, including a phone, computer, camera, e-mail, instant message, text message, chat room, social media, website or other form of electronic communication. Some examples of cyberbullying could include:

• Sending viscous text messages, emails or instant messages about a student
• Spreading rumors or gossip by posting it to social networking sites
• Taking and sending embarrassing pictures or videos without permission
• Creating a fake profile and pretending to be another student

The growth of cyberbullying mirrors the speed of invention. In other words, as new technology which is utilized as a communication tool is developed, the users of those tools make decisions on how to use them. One of the current primary methods of transmitting these communications is through social media. Although social media is merely a communication tool, social media created opportunities and avenues for bullies to seize upon. Let’s quickly look at the rise of social media from its birth to present date.

In 1997, the first true social media site was born, it was called SixDegrees.com, where a profile page was created and messaging occurred within networks. In the year 2000, a site was created where users could submit photos of themselves so other persons could rate their attractiveness; what could go wrong? Friendster in 2002 started strong, but its servers had various issues which left the door open for Myspace and LinkedIn in 2003. The Facebook (not a typo) launched in 2004, changing to “Facebook,” in 2005. In this time-period, a large number of other social media sites launched and went live, including YouTube (2005) and Twitter (2006). Hashtags (#) became useable symbols to promote awareness on social issues, in 2007. Digital culture changed with the uses of emoji’s, which first appeared in 1999 but became a staple by 2010. Instagram was introduced in 2010, Snapchat in 2011. In 2014 Twitter promoted the “Year of the Selfie,” and Paris Hilton is widely referred to as the inventor of the selfie.

The primary method of utilizing social media is through cell phones. Cell phones also are utilized to transmit text messages, take and share video/pictures, leave voice messages, place calls and access the internet. Of all the tools available to people, it is my opinion that the cell phone is the primary device for transmitting cyberbullying communications; followed by laptops, tablets and computers. Social media is one vehicle on the roads paved by phones and computers.
For school age victims, cyberbullying can occur anywhere, including outside of school property. It is safe to say, a large part of cyberbullying occurs when victims are at home or other non-school related functions. We will cover the law and punishment of these occurrences in blogs to follow. Here are some interesting statistics you may not otherwise be aware of.

According to www.stopbullying.gov:

• 1 in 10 boys cyberbullied
• 1 in 5 girls cyberbullied

Places Where Cyberbullying Occurs (per www.stopbullying.gov)

• 71% chance a Cyberbullying incident will occur on FACEBOOK
• 52% chance a Cyberbullying incident will occur on INSTAGRAM
• 41% chance a Cyberbullying incident will occur on SNAPCHAT
• Statistics on TikTok still being accumulated

How are kids cyberbullied? (per www.stopbullying.gov)

• Mean or hurtful comments online 23%
• Rumors online 20%
• Posted mean names or comments online with a sexual meaning 13%
• Threatened to hurt me online 12%
• Threatened to hurt me through a cell phone text 12%
• Posted a mean or hurtful picture of victim online 11%

Let’s Talk About National Bullying Prevention Month!

I’d like to tell you that bullying is a new phenomenon, but history and folklore would disagree. Believe it or not, Cinderella is not a story that originated in a 1950’s Disney movie. This story is a folk tale representing elements of cruel & unjust oppression followed by triumph. Cinderella is a young woman living in bleak circumstances, constantly being harassed by family before achieving extraordinarily great fortune. The ancient story of Rhodopis, which dates back around 7 BC and AD 23, is usually considered to be the first variant of the Cinderella story. The word Cinderella has come to symbolize one whose attributes were unrecognized, one who was shunned by those with power; one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success. Cinderella and Rhodopis share various traits … both were victims of aggressors, targets of bullying, found means to overcome, and both stories go back hundreds of years.

In present times victims do not have Cinderella’s fairy godmother “to right their wrongs”. Yet there are still bullying stories being written and victims in need of tools and means to overcome. I will take the next few weeks to share information on the topic of bullying to help readers gain knowledge of ways to manage, cope and overcome situations involving bullying.

Let’s start with informing you of a fact that you may not know, October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Yes, there is a National Bullying Prevention Month, but what is it and why? Everyday thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers, in neighborhoods, at school, home, in person or using electronic communication. These victims often need help and the issue requires recognition. National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by an organization known as PACER, through PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and its purpose is educate, unite communities and raise awareness of bullying prevention.

PACER developed the initial campaign, National Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week, to raise awareness about bullying. Historically, bullying had been viewed as “a childhood rite of passage” that “made kids tougher,” but the reality has always been that bullying can leave devastating and often long-term effects. National Bullying Prevention Month is now a nationwide call to action around educating communities as to their roles in bullying prevention. This initiative has helped shift thinking away from bullying as “rite of passage” and toward the knowledge that bullying can be prevented and “must be” stopped through education and awareness.

Here are some helpful bullying statistics which were collected by various organizations, including www.stopbulling.gov

• About 20% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying nationwide.
• Nationwide, 19% of students in grades 9–12 report being bullied on school property in the 12 months prior to the survey.
• Approximately 46% of students ages 12-18 who were bullied during the school year notified an adult at school about the bullying.
• Among students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school during the school year, 15 % were bullied online or by text.
• An estimated 14.9% of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Bullying is something we must continue to globally combat, and sometimes that takes a hero/heroin. “Because a society is measured by how it treats the weak and vulnerable, we must strive to build a culture of life,” – George W. Bush. I’d like to tell you that bullying is a new phenomenon, but instead I will tell you that bullying is a problem which we have tools and means to overcome. Join us at Crime Stoppers of Houston as we take an eight week blog journey through the multifaceted subject of bullying.

Press Release: Crime Stoppers of Houston Urges Harris County Delegation to Take Action this Upcoming Legislative Session on the Issue of Bond Reform to Protect Victims and the Community

HOUSTON (August 20, 2020) – Over 50 people have been killed in Harris County over the last two years as a result of well intentioned, but poorly implemented bail bond reforms. Ashton Broussard had four prior felony convictions and was granted two PR bonds in the days leading up to an altercation where he is alleged to have taken a gun from a security officer before being shot by a Houston PD Sergeant. Cedgadrick Harris was released on a PR bond after allegedly assaulting Kimberley Robinson. He then failed to appear for a routine court hearing, but was still granted a second PR bond. He then allegedly tampered with a government record and was granted a felony bond despite having obviously violated his previous PR bonds. After being released on two PR bonds and a felony bond, Harris kicked down Robinson’s door and shot her to death, injuring her 4-year old daughter in the process. Angel Cardenas was released on a PR bond following his arrest on capital murder and tampering with evidence charges after an alleged accomplice died of gunshot wounds suffered during a shootout following a gun store robbery.

Due to these cases and many others, Crime Stoppers of Houston supports the efforts of Senator Paul Bettencourt to prevent people from being released from jail on multiple personal bonds and Senator John Whitmire’s ongoing efforts to reform the bail bond system and establish a statewide, standardized system that sets bond based on risk. These changes would result in significant improvements to the pretrial release system in Texas by ensuring equitable treatment of individuals accused of crimes and reducing the likelihood of violent repeat offenders being released back on to the streets.

Time and time again, we’re seeing the same defendants released on multiple bonds, continually being arrested for additional felony crimes and yet are still getting out of jail on new bonds. The last statistical data Crime Stoppers received six months ago from local law enforcement officials indicate over 4,000 defendants have been granted bonds for violent and sexually related offenses. Public safety is at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community. All of us who live and work in Harris County should be on the same page on behalf of public safety. Increasing crime rates detrimentally affect all of us. Improving public safety has to be a non-partisan issue.

Crime Stoppers of Houston urges the Harris County delegation to the Texas Legislature to take action this upcoming legislative session to protect victims and the community by making public safety a central component of any bond reform legislation considered during the upcoming legislative session. We cannot continue to release dangerous individuals on to the streets. As Kimberley Robinson’s mother, Janet Robinson, said: “when you keep letting these people out are you thinking about the person that’s supposed to be protected?”

For additional information or to schedule a media interview, please contact Crime Stoppers Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan at akahan@crime-stoppers.org.

Ramifications of Criminal Justice and Bond Reform

Daniel Musterman was a devoted son and caretaker to his 87-year-old mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Caitlynne Rose was a young mother and was 8 months pregnant. Gregory Brooks had a wonderful sense of humor but he prided himself in taking his education seriously and was proud to be one of the first in his family to go to college. Reginald Larry was on his way to his Grandmother’s house when he stopped to get a drink at a corner store.

What do Daniel, Caitlynne, Gregory and Reginald have in common? All four of them were murdered. The suspects were all released on multiple bonds by Harris County Judges in the past year. And sadly, there are many more.

Crime Stoppers of Houston wants to be perfectly clear: We support Misdemeanor Bond Reform. We recognize and support the need for Criminal Justice Reform. What we don’t support is when public safety is placed at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community despite being charged with multiple violent crimes.

In another disturbing note, Crime Stoppers has had to issue rewards on suspects charged with crimes after they have been released on multiple bonds.

Misdemeanor Judges are bound by a Federal Court ruling basically removing cash bail for most misdemeanor charges. District Judges who handle felony cases are not. When a defendant out on felony bond is arrested on a new felony charge, the judge then has discretion whether or not to revoke the original bond or grant him/her a new bond giving them the chance to return to the community once again.

From our perspective, that’s the crux of the problem. Time and time again, we’re seeing the same defendants released on multiple bonds, continually being arrested for additional felony crimes and yet are still getting out of jail on new bonds.

What’s the problem with that? Ask the families of Daniel, Caitlynne, Gregory and Reginald and many others whose loved ones have been murdered by defendants out on multiple bonds, people who have shown their propensity to thumb their nose at the law

The last statistical data I received six months ago from local law enforcement officials indicate over 4,000 defendants have been granted bonds for violent and sexually related offenses.

This is of grave concern to Crime Stoppers and leads to a series of questions that deserve answers:

• How many felony defendants are out on repeat multiple bonds and for what types of offenses?
• How many felony defendants are in bond forfeiture and have been declared fugitives?
• How many defendants committed crimes after a Motion to Revoke the original bond was denied?
• How many defendants have actually had their bonds revoked after being charged with another crime while out on bond?
• How many of our citizens have become crime victims as a result of offenders violating their conditions of bond?

The defendant charged with Capital Murder in the slaying of Byron Handy was on Felony Probation and yet managed to be granted three separate bonds for offenses, all involving the use of a firearm. His bond was not revoked and inexplicably was allowed to remain on probation.

The defendant charged with the slaying of Matthew Franklin was out on bond for three charges of Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Assault.

The defendant wanted for the murder of Reginald Larry was released on multiple felony bonds including murder and two aggravated assault charges. He was on deferred adjudication while all this occurred, yet was allowed to remain in the community.

The defendant charged with two counts Capital Murder in the deaths of Kevin Kelly and Sylvernia Edwards was out on multiple felony bonds at the time of their killings.

I could go on and on with examples like the above in which our citizens paid the ultimate price for criminal justice and bond reform.
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As a victim advocate, it is difficult to explain to families why their loved one was killed. It simply defies logic. What do I tell the family of an 11-year-old boy who was shot by a defendant already out on multiple bonds for murder, evading arrest and unlawfully carrying a weapon? How do I try to put into context what is happening to our criminal justice system to families who are grieving and searching for answers as to why their loved one was murdered?

Public safety is at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community. The problem is we have no way of knowing how many offenders fit into this category because Harris County does not keep such vital statistical information.

Everyone who supports criminal justice and bond reform should be demanding to have as much information as possible to determine which measures are working and which are putting the public at risk. All of us who live and work in Harris County should be on the same page on behalf of public safety. Increasing crime rates detrimentally affect all of us. Improving public safety has to be a non-partisan issue.

My mantra as a Victim Advocate for over 28 years is to seek solutions. It would behoove all of us, instead of yelling and screaming about the injustices regarding our criminal justice system it’s time for all of us who have a vested interest in making Harris County safer to get together as a cohesive group and work on positive changes.

Shame on all of us if we fail to take proactive measure to make our community safer: The citizens of Harris County deserve better.

Regards,

Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services & Advocacy

Related News:

Advocates say partners in Harris Co. are being killed after offenders get bond

Another Murder Blamed On The Activist Judges In Harris County Courts

Crime Stoppers and HPD address safety issue on push for bail reform in Houston area

Suspect in Katy-Area Mom’s Murder Out on PR Bonds at Time of Shooting

 

The Houston Fire Department Encourages Fourth of July Firework Safety

The Houston Fire Department would like to remind citizens of potential risks associated with the personal use of fireworks- including devastating burns, injuries, fires, and even deaths.

Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using fireworks. Emergency rooms treat thousands of people for fireworks related injuries; half of those injuries were to the extremities and 34% were to the eye or other parts of the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2018 injuries. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2018 Fireworks Annual Report by Yongling Tu and Jason Ng.

In addition, it’s important to remember it is illegal to discharge fireworks in the City of Houston and parts of the county, with fines ranging from $500 – $2000 for each individual firework. If a minor is caught discharging fireworks, the parent or guardian will receive the fine even if they were unaware of the minor’s possession and/or usage.

“Remember that igniting fireworks in the City of Houston is illegal, but even more important is life safety,” says HFD Assistant Chief, Fire Marshal Alfredo Martinez. “ In 2018, fireworks started approximately 19,500 fires in the United States and caused over 9,000 hospital emergency room visits.”

Citizens should also remember that discharging fireworks is illegal near certain locations of unincorporated areas of Harris County, such as near churches, hospitals and asylums, a licensed child care center, or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless the person receives authorization in writing from that organization.

Complaints regarding the illegal use of fireworks should be directed to the HPD Tel-communicator (non-emergency line) at 713-884-3131. If the citizen believes that there may be a fire and/or medical emergency related to the use of fireworks, he/she should dial 9-1-1 and request the HFD.

“Independence Day is a great day for our country,” says HFD Fire Chief Samuel Peña. ” We appreciate the gift and sacrifices made by so many. Let’s promise to be good citizens of our country and help America grow into a better nation each day.”