What should the punishment be for foiled school shooting plots?

I say "school shootings" to mean something planned by a juvenile (let's say 14-17). I was inspired to ask this question after seeing the "Shootings that never were" thread. I have to wonder - if a juvenile has a clearly written out plot to attack their school, what kind of criminal action should be taken in your opinion? How should the youth be punished? Does your answer depend on the age and stage of the plot (say, the difference between a 15-year-old with a plan written in his journal versus a 17-year-old that has already obtained guns and bomb-making materials)?

I'm not too well-versed in law, but I am more curious here about your personal opinions. Do you think action taken should be based upon rehabilitating the juvenile and preventing future violence, or punishing the juvenile due to the clear intention to commit mass murder? I mean this in a general sense, of course. No two cases are alike.

I think generally, if a youth has a plan and they either have the weapons or there is proof that they are attempting to obtain weapons/materials, legal action should be taken. But I think there needs to be a combination of repercussion and rehabilitation. Kids just don't think like adults, you cannot treat them as such by locking them up and throwing away the key.

Littlelo wrote:

I think generally, if a youth has a plan and they either have the weapons or there is proof that they are attempting to obtain weapons/materials, legal action should be taken. But I think there needs to be a combination of repercussion and rehabilitation. Kids just don't think like adults, you cannot treat them as such by locking them up and throwing away the key.

I agree.

Does anyone know if Erik V got an jail time from his threats? I know his bail was really high, like $250,000

Screamingophelia wrote:

Littlelo wrote:

I think generally, if a youth has a plan and they either have the weapons or there is proof that they are attempting to obtain weapons/materials, legal action should be taken. But I think there needs to be a combination of repercussion and rehabilitation. Kids just don't think like adults, you cannot treat them as such by locking them up and throwing away the key.

I agree.

Does anyone know if Erik V got an jail time from his threats? I know his bail was really high, like $250,000

Not sure how things ended for him but he was charged as a juvenile. Bond was $500k.

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Littlelo wrote:

Screamingophelia wrote:

Littlelo wrote:

I think generally, if a youth has a plan and they either have the weapons or there is proof that they are attempting to obtain weapons/materials, legal action should be taken. But I think there needs to be a combination of repercussion and rehabilitation. Kids just don't think like adults, you cannot treat them as such by locking them up and throwing away the key.

I agree.

Does anyone know if Erik V got an jail time from his threats? I know his bail was really high, like $250,000

Not sure how things ended for him but he was charged as a juvenile. Bond was $500k.

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Thanks for that info.

If it is the same Erik Veik that I stumbled upon he got his degree and works as a lighting designer for various theatres around the world and if I may jump into the shallow end again, is pretty freaking handsome too.

So here’s the thing about rehabilitation.  John Zawahri was a supposed “rehabilitated shooting planner” who went out and performed a mass shooting regardless of his time spent in rehabilitation.  He had planned to attack his school but after that was thwarted, he attacked multiple targets around Santa Monica. So will rehabilitation work? This may be an area where it works for some but not others.  As far as I know, Eric V. has not been in trouble with the law so he may be a good case for rehabilitation.  The two boys who committed the Westside Middle School shooting would also be a bad case for rehabilitation.  While I am unsure if they had to undergo any counseling while incarcerated, both have had legal trouble since being released.  Both were busted on gun charges; one was an attempt to obtain a gun when he was busted for using a fake name in an attempt to obtain a concealed weapon permit and the other was busted for having a gun along with marijuana.  I think it would be tough to determine who might benefit from rehabilitation.  However, if these kids are going to be put back out into society, something needs to be done to protect the general public.

And also if you want to look at rehabilitation. Eric and Dylan went to diversion and got out early. Dylan had extreme contempt for everyone in the class yet only two people from that the diversion program went on to commit a massacre

Screamingophelia wrote:

And also if you want to look at rehabilitation. Eric and Dylan went to diversion and got out early. Dylan had extreme contempt for everyone in the class yet only two people from that the diversion program went on to commit a massacre

Yeah, as I was reading Ainjel's post I thought about that. I guess some kids can remain motivated and lie to whoever they need to lie to in order to appear "cured".

I guess there needs to be more follow-up so that the system can't just wipe their hands of a juvenile once they are deemed "rehabilitated".