AboutJack Toomey Expertise Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. Only a judge could answer a question like that. I am also NOT a probation officer or parole officer so I cannot answer questions that relate to parole or probation. Also please keep in mind that every state has different laws. If you are planning to ask a question about a specific law or criminal charge that pertains to your state only it could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or what not to do in court.
Retired police officer with 26 years experience. Worked in the patrol
division as well as over 14 years in the detective bureau. Investigated a
wide range of crime such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing
persons, and other very sensitive crimes. I am available to answer your
questions about criminal law and especially as it applies to police work. I
taught at the police academy for several years and am especially
knowledgeable about search and seizure. Any question about criminal law is
welcome! Please don't ask me to do your homework or ask me questions that obviously come from your teachers or professors. I also do not do online interviews or surveys. Young people need to gain face to face interviewing skills. Local police officers usually are very agreeable to assist in these assignments.
Experience I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience. I investigated almost every type of crime including murder, rape, theft, mising persons, fraud, and domestic abuse. I am very knowledgeable about search and seizure and taught at the police academy for several years on a variety of subjects. I can answer questions that a lot of attorneys cannot since they do not have "street experience".
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Science degree in Criminolgy from the University of Maryland.
Expert: Jack Toomey Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: threats at a daycare center
Question Hello, very new to this. I been trying to research this on the internet, but have no luck. I have a 6 year old daughter at daycare. Today I got a call that a 8 year old boy in the same class had threatened her. He came up to her and said " I hate you!! I am going to kill you and your mommy!!" Whew, I was very shocked and upset because my daughter was crying and shaking so bad. Parents, you know how I would feel. I talked to the director at the childcare center and she told me there was nothing she could do about it because he had never been in trouble before. I feel trouble is coloring on the wall or throwing a ball in the room. Not threaten a life!! Is there anything I cn do about this?? Or should I just let it go, knowing kids will be kids. I feel this individual should not be in a room with other kids. The director told me he is violent with others physically and socially. So, what should I do?? Any info or guide would be greatly appreciated!!
Answer Matt,
I hesitate to answer this question since it seems to be a dispute between you and the daycare center and the police are not involved or at least you haven't mentioned anything about the police. It is also possible that you selected the wrong expert but I will go ahead and answer the question since it does involve a threat.
I am not sticking up for the director of the daycare center but perhaps he/she has some knowledge of the law in whatever state you are in. In most states the "age of reason" is around seven years old which means that someone seven years old and under (in my state) is incapable of committing a crime. The age could be different in your state. Its likely that the director knows this boy a lot better than you do so that could be in play here. But the fact that the director is not doing anything certainly is out of my control.
If this scenario had played out in MY state I doubt seriously if the police would have anything to do with it because even though threatening words were spoken the "suspect" has to have the means and ability to carry out the threat. An eight year old hardly has the means and ability to kill either your daughter or your wife.
So you see I am answering this as though you asked what the police could or couldn't do (which you didn't) but I can hardly give you advice about what to do with a daycare center since that does not fall into my area of expertise.
Perhaps changing daycare centers would be the prudent thing to do.
