FBI campaign looks to curb school hoax threats

Calley Cederlof | Visalia Times-Delta

Show Caption Hide Caption Santa Fe school shooting one of America's deadliest The shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas is not only the latest school shooting, but it's also one of the deadliest in modern U.S. history.

Since the Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Tulare County schools have seen an increase in school threats.

In total, there have been 13 Tulare County school shooting threats since the Parkland, Fla. massacre, most happening within the week after.

This uptick in hoax threats is not something that typically occurs in the Central Valley.

In the aftermath of tragic shootings such as the ones at Santa Fe High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the FBI and law enforcement around the country often see an increase in threats made to schools and other public forums, officials said.

To counter these, the FBI announced a campaign aimed at reducing hoax threats.

#ThinkBeforeYouPost will educate the public on the consequences of posting hoax threats to schools and other public places and will remind communities that hoax threats are not a joke.

In a campaign PSA, FBI deputy Director David Bowdich encourages those contemplating a hoax threat against a school to think it through.

"Hoax threats have real consequences," Bowdich said. "We don't want to see a young person begin their adult lives with a felony record."

The FBI and its partners follow up on every tip received from the public, according to a press release issued Thursday.

"Federal, state and local law enforcement then employ a full range of tools to mitigate those threats which are deemed credible," according to the release. "These investigations drain resources and cost taxpayers a lot of money."

If it is found to be a hoax threat to a school or other public place, a federal charge of a maximum of five years in prison can be considered. If a federal charge is not warranted, state charges can be considered.



Public assistance is crucial to efforts to decrease hoax threats, officials said.

Early intervention can prevent a situation from escalating by identifying, assessing, and managing the threat.

If there is any reason to believe the safety of others is at risk, the FBI asks that the public immediately reach out to their local police department by calling 911, or contact the FBI via tips.fbi.gov or over the phone (1-800-CALL-FBI).