If a child physically assaults another child?

Question

And the parent doesn't care, can the police be involved? In the case of school ground fights, or incidents, it's up the the school to discipline the children (I'm assuming), but what about outside of schools?
At what age can children be charged with assault? Or can parents be held criminally liable for their children's actions?

Answer 1

Such a good question! I worked with a child who was being abused by her brother, and no one in the home did anything about it. It upset me so much that I went to my superiors and they said that I could only do something if I were present when the abuse took place, and if that were the case, I should either call Cactus, or the police. So, yes, the police can and should be involved, that is basically neglect!
The plan was that if the abuse kept up, the abuser would be removed from the home, and sent to a residential treatment facility where he couldn't hurt anyone.
I don't know if the parents would be liable, but I think they should, since they aren't doing anything to stop it.

Answer 2

a child can be held responsible for assault I think at pretty much any age and if there is a child that is assulting someone they should get the police involved especially if the parents are not doing anything about it or dont care that child is probably doing this to more than just one person and should be stopped and if the parents arent willing to handle the situation than by all means the police should and yes parents can be held liable for there children I would call and make a report with the police

Answer 3

I would recommend calling the police. I have a child that has been physically with other children and many times the parents are fighting with the courts, to try and get the child help ( this is my situtation) and nothing will be done. Don't always assum that the parents don't care. Some parents are just as frustrated with thier child behavior as you are . As in my case as well . Try reading my post about Does mental health give a right. It may help explain that some parents are trying to do something with thier child and no one will listen. Call the police your child does not deserve to be physically attacked .

Answer 4

Well if the parents won't do anything the police will have to be involved.
They call it "bullying" but it is assault and the *victim* needs to be protected not the bully/assaulter.
I would give bullies a taste of their own medicine so that they know what it's like and *then* try to deal with any underlying causes - the trouble is often the bully/assaulter gets all of the attention and is not punished and so goes on to bully/assault more and to manipulate the system and the victim thereby suffers twice by seeing his assaulter get away with it (and may be driven to bully himself or take the law into his own hands).
That is not "politically correct" I know but in the adult world violence is punished by law and children should not be allowed to grow up thinking that they can get away with violence/asault just because they *are* children - in fact that is the age to nip it in the bud and *deter* (in a meaningful way) violent behaviour.Parents *should* do it - if not the law *must*.
Best wishes,
Joan.

Answer 5

Children usually exhibit bad behavior due to bad parenting. No use going to talk to bad parents about bad children.

I am sure you can find an army of psychs to tell you I am wrong but good parents don't often have trouble with bad children.

When a child is under the age of seven a legal principal called doli incapax applies. This means a child does not know the difference between good and bad or right and wrong well enough to make a judgement on that topic yet.

Look it up on the net in a law dictionary. Doli Incapax

Answer 6

You did right by first meeting with the assistant principal. Since you haven't heard anything, I'd suggest you contact them again and now with the head principal, and make sure he was wrote up and it'll stay in his permanent record. I'm not big on suing, especially on such a minor case. You son wasn't actually hurt, just embarrassed. He also probably did something to escalate the situation. I know, teachers are supposed to be in control at all times, but they are human and they do get stressed out at times. If he is written up, however, he'll think twice before doing such again, so you will have prevented the problem from happening to someone else in the future. If it's happened in the past, this will log a reoccurring situation and the school should dismiss the teacher. I don't believe the school is allowed to disclose to you if there have been problems such as this in the past with that teacher. Personnel records are not open to the public. I'd make sure I logged the incident, and keep your ears open. If you hear of such again, you'll have the date, teacher, who you spoke to, etc. Then you could both go to court and prove it's a reoccuring situation which the school failed to remedy.

Answer 7

the police are involved and should be involved in case of school violence it happens all the time. and the parents should care and if they dont then what kind of parent are they.and its up to the school and the parents to discipline the child in the case of assaulting another child.and if the parents dont take responsibility for their child then yes they should be held criminally liable for their kids actions.

Answer 8

Call police and press charges. If you do not what happens to the next kid. Teach them a lesson.

Answer 9

in england you can charge a child at 10 years old, they can put the child in a yoi(young offenders institute)

Answer 10

call the police and find out. Different places have different rules