Bullying

Bullying doesn’t make you cool it is just mean and harmful.

What is bullying?

There are several ways bullying occurs.

• Verbal: name-calling, teasing, spreading rumors

• Physical: hitting, punching, shoving, kicking

• Cyber bullying: using the Internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to harm others

Bullying has two key components: repeated harmful acts and an imbalance of power. It involves repeated physical, verbal, or psychological attacks or intimidation directed against a victim who cannot properly defend him- or herself because of size or strength

A should be for assertive not apathetic.  Watching bullying take place and doing nothing about it contributes to the problem.

Why should I care?

Everyone deserves a safe school and environment to focus on more important priorities as opposed to  worrying about some bully’s next stupid decision.  Everyone deserves the opportunity to live life without intimidation while trying to educate and better themselves.

1 in every 4 students ages 12-18 are bullied at school.  Do you have more than 4 friends? Out of those events over half were witnessed by three or more people that did nothing to stop the bullying. When people say nothing they are actually telling the bully it is ok to continue his or her actions.  Look at “What can I do?” to see what to do in situations with bullies.

What can I do?

There are always ways to make yourself less of a target.  Here are some helpful tips on what to do to prevent bullying and what to do if you are already being bullied.

Cyberbullying

Methods of Prevention

• If it may embarrass you don’t do it! Don’t share secrets, photos or anything that could come back to haunt you or weapon your opponent. What may seem funny or “not a big deal” at the time could be used against you and humiliate you later.

• Set privacy settings on your accounts. Do not share information with people you don’t know or don’t know well. Pay attention to notices about privacy settings and discover how to protect yourself from cyberbullies.

Once the Bullying Has Occurred

• Talk with someone you trust. The more advice from mature, trustworthy people the better. In some cases the solution is simple, but just needs an outside perspective in able to see the resolution.

• Do not respond to cyberbullying. Some bullies just want to see a reaction. If someone has posted or sent a message that could be hurtful to others don’t respond and never pass the message along.

• Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, e-mails, and text messages. If there is a huge problem with cyberbullying the law is here to help!

• Block the person who is cyberbullying you. Many companies let you block people. Also, cyberbullying is not accepted by numerous companies and may violate the “Terms and Conditions” of these services. Reporting the person can help end the bullying.

• Report the incident to your school. They may be able to help you resolve the cyberbullying or be watchful for face-to-face bullying.

• Ask for help. Sometimes, talking to a counselor or health professional can help relieve some of the emotional stress.

Physical or verbal bullying

Methods of Prevention

• Stay away from bullies. Don’t hang out where bullies are looming.

• Stay near positive people. Hanging around good friends that truly care about you is one way to stay confident and keep away from bullies.

Once the Bullying Has Occurred

• Tell the bully to stop. If the bullying has not escalated into physical matters and is only verbal, then tell them to stop.

• Talk with someone you trust. The more advice from mature, trustworthy people the better. In some cases the solution is simple, but just needs an outside perspective in able to see the resolution.

• Report bullying. If the bully continues to persist with threats, intimidation, or physical abuse then report the bullying to the school principal or if they are Crime Stoppers. Sometimes it is easier to be able to tell about a situation with the ability to stay anonymous. Just like in the case of cyberbullying keep all evidence for reporting.

• Do not blame yourself. Remember that no matter what someone says, you should not be ashamed of who you are or what you feel.

• Be proud of who you are. Don’t give the bully the satisfaction of letting them know they got underneath your skin. Some bullies just want a reaction. If you are bullied about race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or anything else take pride in who you are.

“But I am the bully”  (for a Bully)

People Who Bully Others:

Have a higher risk of abusing alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults. It may seem normal or cool to drink and do drugs, but it is extremely harmful to all aspects of life including to family life.

Are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school.

School is what gives you the tools needed to advance and succeed.  Those that don’t finish their education make less money and cannot support themselves.

Are more likely to have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults.  In one study, 60% of boys who bullied others in middle school had a criminal conviction by age 24.

Are more likely to continue an abusive path and become violent towards even loved ones.

Graffiti

Graffiti is not art. It is vandalism.

What is Graffiti?

Graffiti is any unauthorized marking such as an initial, slogan, or drawing, written, spray-painted, or sketched on public or private property such as on a lamp post, wall of a building.  Not all graffiti is gang related, but all graffiti is vandalism.

Problems with Graffiti

Graffiti harms all community members.  If you know someone who owns a restaurant, hair shop, or any other retail you are directly harming them when you graffiti their property.  Although you may not know the person, they are still members of a community and deserve respect. It wouldn’t be cool if your house was tagged, so it is not cool when you tag someone else’s property.

Many committing vandalism see graffiti as a small problem, but truly graffiti is a gateway crime that leads to other illegal activities and can start those involved in a life of crime.  Graffiti can lead to violence and rivalry and harms all members within the community. It starts with a finger on the spray can then leads to the finger on a trigger of a gun that lands you in prison. Graffiti also costs money.

Graffiti contributes to reduced retail sales and declines in property value. That costs the community money and gives the perception of gang activity.

Graffiti costs your family and friends as tax-payers lots of money.  Those tax dollars could be spent on a variety of other fun things like parks, soccer fields, art programs, school funding and more useful projects.

Fast Facts

• Graffiti constitutes over 1/3 of property vandalism making at a cost of $12 Billion annually to remove in the U.S.( According to the 2010 U.S. Department of Justice statistics)

• Graffiti cleanup takes a big chunk out of municipal budgets. The City of Denver alone spends about $2 million dollars a year to clean up graffiti and RTD spends about $1 million.

• About 80% of graffiti is “tagger” graffiti. Nationally, gang graffiti makes up about 10% of graffiti.

• There are four types of graffiti; tagger graffiti, gang graffiti, hate messages and generic

• Graffiti encourages littering, loitering and more graffiti and opportunities to breed more crime.

But I want to express myself!

Some criminals claim they just want to express themselves and create an artistic piece.  If you or a friend feels the need to express yourself join a club or program that provides a designated artistic space.

Enforcement of graffiti laws may include any or all of the following:

• Fines and restitution for graffiti markings.

 What would your family do if they had to pay court fees, tickets, and fines up to $5,000?

• Suspended motor vehicle privileges.

How cool will you be when you can’t drive, but your friends can?

• Arrest and imprisonment.

Are you prepared to do the time for the crime?

• Graffiti misdemeanors being stacked to allow for a felony conviction.

 Felony record before you can legally vote how will that record look to employers?

What you can do!

You may ask what you can do to stop graffiti or help a friend.  There are always options and you have the power to choose what you want to do.

• Some things to keep in mind, when it comes to graffiti are that the vandals most often will not hit a spot that is covered with plants. Plants also offer a prettier sight and help improve a community image and raises values. Which would you rather look at, some ugly scribble or flowering blossoms and greenery? Encourage your school or community to start a program where plants are planted in specific areas to discourage graffiti.

• In some cases painted murals help prevent re-occurring graffiti. Organize or promote mural projects within your schools and community, in areas that have a constant issue.

• Also agencies are working hard to identify tags and graffiti criminals. However, without a report nothing can be done. So make sure every time you see a tag or witness a crime report it to local authorities. If you want to remain anonymous report the information to Crime Stoppers!

Weapons

Bringing Weapons to School doesn’t make you cool.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the second leading cause of death from 2002-2003, for youth ages 15-24, was homicide.

Just remember if you take a life away even by accident you cannot bring that person back.

A Grave State

In 2007-2008 school year, over 1000 incidents with weapons were reported in Colorado schools.

In 2005 36% of students in 9-12 grade said they had been in a fight. Imagine if all those students were carrying a weapon. The fights in which kids had gotten seriously hurt would probably increased and been more severe.

What you can do

• Refuse to bring a weapon to school.

• Refuse to carry a weapon for another student even if they are your girlfriend or boyfriends.

• Refuse to keep silent about those who carry weapons.

• Learn how to manage your own anger effectively. Find out ways to settles arguments by talking it out, working it out, or walking away rather than fighting.

• Help others settle arguments in a positive way. Start or join a peer mediation program.

• Report any crime immediately to school authorities or Crime Stoppers.

Gang Activity

Gangs are not your family they are your demise

What is a Gang?

Colorado Revised Statute 17-1-109(2)(b) defines a GANG as :

“… a group of 3 or more individuals with a common interest, bond, or activity characterized by criminal or delinquent conduct engaged in either collectively or individually.”

What does a gang member look like?

Despite today’s media, a gang member is not easily recognizable.  Gangs are not a big city or inner city problem they are everyone’s problem and put all people at risk.

They are in suburbs and cannot be identified by a particular race or culture.  Gangs are from all ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, gender and geographic backgrounds.  They bring fear and violence to neighborhoods, traffic in drugs, destroy property, involve youth in crimes and drive out businesses.  Gangs pull youth away from school and home into a life of violence and crime.

The story of Edgar Jiménez Lugo, who went by the nickname “El Ponchis”, from California, who brutally killed three people, stated it started at 11 and he was coerced into crime by gang members.

Life of a Gangster

• They may be killed or injured during gang activity

• Many get diseases

• Many go to prison

• Many become dependent on alcohol and drugs

• Gang members frequently drop out of school, limiting their chances for higher education and a good job

• They embark on a life of crime

• They commit seriously felonies that lead to lengthy jail time

• They may be killed when they try to leave the gang

Who gangs hurt

Getting involved in a gang hurts numerous people in their life – number one being the “gangster”.  Some think joining a gang will protect them and they will be part of a new “family.” Where is that “family” while you are in jail or prison?  How many times do they bond another gang member out?

Joining a gang will hurt you and anyone you love.  You no longer think for yourself, you become someone’s puppet; you are giving someone else the power over your life.  Don’t be conned into a life of gangs and crime.

Doing dirt for someone else

Gang members are more likely than at risk youth to participate and initiate crime.  Studies have shown that gang members are more likely to participate in crimes including violent crimes ranging from assault to homicide even when they have no personal relation with the victim.

So many gang members crave respect, but they fail to see they are not even respected by their new “families”.

There is a quotation “Friendship is selfless love, care, respect, and honor not a profitable opportunity.” ask yourself if gang members are really your friends or if you are just a profitable opportunity to solicit drugs, and do dirt for them.

What you can do!

            How to Protect Yourself:

• Don’t choose to hang out or associate with gang members or “wannabe” gang members.

• Don’t choose to identify or communicate with gangs.

• Keep your eyes open for known gang hangouts and steer clear.

• Know the gang-related clothing in your area and don’t wear it where gangs congregate.

• Never choose to attend a party put on by gangs or their associates.

• Don’t choose to take part in any graffiti activity or hang around where graffiti is present.

• Don’t use any kind of finger gesture or sign language in public that might be construed as a gang sign.

• Choose to Be proactive and tell your parents, a school counselor, or a police officer immediately if you are approached by a gang member attempting to recruit you. If you don’t want controversy call Crime Stoppers. You remain completely anonymous.

• Choose to let gang members know you respect them but you are not interested in joining a gang.

• Choose to attend school regularly and work hard. Look at the bigger picture — what kind of job would you like? What do you have to do to get that job?

• Find others who want to stay out of gangs. Develop friendships with peers you trust.

• Gradually limit your involvement with other known gang members. The less you are in the area, the better. Find activities to keep you occupied and away from that area. Fading out is a part of the process.

• Get involved with school organizations and other community activities. Your school counselors and city websites would be an excellent resource for these activities. Remember, “idle hands are the Devil’s playground.” Get involved and stay busy. There is more to life than what a gang can offer. You do not need the false self esteem a gang provides.

If you get involved in a gang, is it hard to get out?

Leaving a gang is extremely difficult.  They have already branded members, with tattoos, beat them in and made them engage in activities that make them feel guilty and feel like they have to stay.  However there are resources to get out. Or, if you have a friend that you know is joining or in a gang tell Crime Stoppers before it is too late.

Resources to get out!

• GRASP Gang Intervention Program 720-913-6606

• His Side Gang Rescuer 7204222390

• Open Door Youth Alternative 303-893-4264

• Urban Peak/ The Spot 303-777-9198

• Youth Biz 720-974-5102

Drugs

Drugs are not the solution they are a faulty escape.

Of course not every drug will kill you after the first time of use, nor will you become addicted immediately with all types of drugs.  The thing to remember with drugs is you are no longer in control! Anytime you are using drugs you lose the capability to think and react to situations clearly.

Not every time will call for you to think clearly, but what about the day you are babysitting your younger sibling and are so high they get seriously injured and you are too impaired to help.

Drugs grab hold of their users and although many say, “I can quit anytime I want I just don’t have a reason to quit” they fail to see how trapped they are.  They start making excuses why they won’t quit today, but after a long time of use they won’t quit tomorrow either.

Reasons for Drug Use

There are a variety of reasons for drug use.  Some just want to try what if feels like, others want to put their problems behind them, and some just like becoming more sociable.  No matter what the reason is it is still illegal and causes many health issues, problems with school and loss of control; you are no longer in the driver’s seat but still have to face the consequences of actions taken while on drugs.

Everyone Does Drugs

Some people may become convinced that drugs are normal and that everyone tries or does drugs.

In reality drug use among 10th graders is less than 1/5th.

You may argue that drugs are not a big deal if there are few who use illicit drugs; however, studies show those who start using drugs at a young age are more likely to stay addicted.

Drug use also contributes to people’s decisions to commit crimes. People on drugs at the time of drug use are more likely to engage in crime. In fact, two out of every three arrestees tested positive for drugs in the system at time of arrest according to Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring sites.  Think about it if you can’t think clearly are you really going to act rationally and make great choices?

Don’t become a statistic

In 2009 there were 3,332 arrests for drug violations do not become one of the thousands that choose to destroy their life and record with drug use.

Although the percentage of usage is somewhat low, there is a drug related death every 15 minutes in the US.

If you know someone who needs help or is trafficking drugs in your school contact Crime Stoppers.

Drinking

Rethink your choice of drink.

Alcohol is one of the number one promoters for violence, sex assault, and fatal car accidents.

How Alcohol Effects Your Body

Alcohol first acts as a stimulant, and then it makes people feel relaxed and a bit sleepy.

Even moderate amounts of alcohol consumption seriously affect judgment and coordination. Drinkers may become confused, depressed, and have slow reaction times.

Drinking a lot in a short period of time may cause alcohol poisoning.

Slippery Slope

Teens and youth who use alcohol can become psychologically dependent upon it to feel good, deal with life, or handle stress.  The more youth drinks and the more often a person drinks causes their bodies to need more and more to achieve the same kind of experience as they did in the beginning. The more you drink at a younger age the more likely you are to become addicted later on.

Honestly who wants to hire a drunk?  Alcoholism affects your life if you ever want a job, keep real friends, or live a healthy life.

Stay in Control Don’t Drink Alcohol

• If you go to a party, participate in activities that do not require alcohol.

• If you feel depressed or think you need alcohol to escape your issues turn to a counselor

• If you just want more excitement and fun you do not need alcohol; take up a legal hobby.

• If you see incidents of alcohol on school grounds report it to a teacher or Crime Stoppers