Alleged assault on Massachusetts disabled student highlights nationwide problem with assaults, bullying, involving children

A recent incident outside of a Massachusetts school highlights a national problem.

According to police, on Friday, the Danvers Police Department sought an arrest warrant for a 15-year-old juvenile male in connection with the attack that occurred at the Holten Richmond Middle School/Plains Park on Saturday. At approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, the juvenile was placed under arrest by the Danvers Police. He has been charged with two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery to intimidate based on disability, and assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability.

While details on this particular case are scarce, assaults and bullying continue to be an issue in schools not only in Massachusetts but across the country with some cases resulting in suicide.

Fall River Reporter has been contacted on multiple occasions recently over students in the area reportedly being bullied and/or hit by other students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics:

• About 857,500 violent incidents and 479,500 nonviolent incidents were recorded by public schools in 2021-22.
• Sixty-seven percent of public schools reported having at least one violent incident. Also, 59 percent reported having at least one non-violent incident.
• The school crime and safety data for 2021-22 show a 1-point increase in public schools reporting at least one hate crime (3 percent), compared with 2 percent in the 2019-20 and 2017-18 school years.
• Schools were also asked about factors that limited their efforts to reduce or prevent crime. The two factors most often reported as limiting these efforts “in a major way” were lack of or inadequate alternative placements or programs for disruptive students (30 percent) and inadequate funding (27 percent).
• A higher percentage of middle schools reported bullying on campus at least once per week in 2021-22, with 28 percent saying it took place at least once a week, compared with 15 percent for high/secondary schools and 10 percent for elementary schools.
• Similarly, cyberbullying at school or away from school at least once a week was reported by 37 percent of middle schools and 25 percent of high/secondary schools, compared to 6 percent of elementary schools.

The Danvers Police Department continues to work in close cooperation with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office on the active and ongoing investigation. In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and because juveniles are involved, no other details were released by police.