Important Back To School Info For Tuscaloosa Parents

As students head back to school, there’s an important conversation Alabama parents should have at home: Words matter, and so do social media posts.

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The following informational. Is being shared by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department:

Alabama’s House Bill 7 now requires schools to take action when a student is charged with making a terrorist threat against a school or other public place. The law also increases criminal penalties for those offenses.

Many younger people may not realize that comments made in anger, attempts at humor, or posts shared online can sometimes be interpreted very differently than intended. When a statement meets the legal definition of a terrorist threat, schools are required to notify law enforcement, and serious consequences can follow while the situation is investigated and addressed.

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department says this does not mean every upset comment or poorly worded post will automatically lead to criminal charges. The facts of each situation do matter.

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department reminds us all that words matter, and so do social media posts.