Many parent’s worst nightmare is a tragic event, such as a school shooting, happening at their child’s school. Because of this fear and the rise of school shootings, terroristic threats amongst school children has gained a lot of local, state, national and even world-wide attention. How do you know if people mean what they say or if they are just blowing off steam or joking around? The scary truth is that we, as every-day citizens and parents, cannot know. What is a terroristic (or hoax) threat? Why are students making these kinds of threats, and what do we do when we, or our students, overhear someone making a threat of any kind? Who is making these threats? Anyone. In schools, we see students primarily make these kinds of threats, although we have also seen instances where parents and other adults make these threats as well. What exactly is a terroristic or hoax threat? According to Section 22.07 of the Texas Penal Code: Any type of threat of violence against a person or institution with intent to: Cause a reaction by emergency services, place a person in fear of serious bodily injury, prevent or interrupt the use of a building, facility […]

Juvenile law is something that parents don’t often think to talk to their students about, but there are a few things that we, at Crime Stoppers, feel all students (and parents) need to be aware of. First of all, we are not lawyers, nor do we claim to be, but we do work with student all day, every day. Through presenting to students regularly, we have found that students are often very confused, and even misinformed about the legal system. Because of that we want to encourage parents to research laws that pertain to the specific county you reside in so that you can begin having critical conversations about juvenile laws with your students. When talking with your students about juvenile laws it is important to remember that in the state of Texas, 17 is the legal age of adulthood. This means that 17 is when you can enter the adult legal system and is when you can go to adult jail/prison. It is also vital to approach conversations with the understanding that when it comes to juveniles, judges have a lot of say in what a student’s punishment or sentence will be. Because of that, it is really difficult […]

As the summer vacation looms, and you’re looking for family-friendly, cost-effective, and local or wilderness sites, please consider your Texas State Parks. Families who play outside are healthier, happier, and smarter. There are lots of options close to your home for a great stay-cation! With a variety of environments, amenities, and activities, you can play for the day or enjoy the summer evenings in many Houston area State Parks. Camping is a great way to explore and immerse your family in the fun of our special areas in the state. We invite you to come to your Texas State Parks (90+ options) and overnight in a tent, RV, shelter, or cabin with adventures for all skill levels. New to camping? Sign up for a Texas Outdoor Family workshop in the Houston area, run in the fall and spring seasons. You and your family will learn the basic outdoor skills needed to enjoy a great camping trip. No experience is necessary! Camping Safety Whether you decide to try it out on your own, or want to join our Texas Outdoor Family program, you may want to keep some of the basic camping safety in mind for the best experience during your […]

As we enter a summer season, there is much excitement to be had for kids of all ages during these summer months. Many of us agree that it is the best time of the year, and have positive memories from summer adventures. While parents and families are seeking engaging, character building, AND fun activities for their kids, it’s important to consider “safety” on that list of essential criteria. When it comes to safety, there are some common practices that readily come to mind: maintaining safety around water and swimming pools, wearing helmets and protective gear during sports or games, reapplying sunscreen regularly and staying hydrated in the Texas heat. These are examples of basic and important habits to establish and reinforce so that kids have positive memories, rather than injuries, from summer experiences. There is another realm of child safety that all caregivers should also be paying attention to this summer: child protection and, more specifically, child sexual abuse prevention. In reality, 1 out of 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Read that again: ONE out of TEN. 90% of abused children know their abuser, so it is important that we understand how to create safe […]