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7/27/2019 McCoy Says Recent Events Show Need For Albany County Cyberbullying Law
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 18, 2013
McCoy Says Recent Events Show NeedFor Albany County Cyberbullying Law
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today announced that the county plans a vigorousdefense of Local Law “F” of 2010, the County Cyber -Bullying law, the constitutionality of whichwill be argued before the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.
McCoy said the county law is timely and a necessary tool for law enforcement in light of recentdevelopments in Florida where two girls have charged in the bullying death and stalking of a 12-year-old girl. Earlier this year County Executive McCoy established the Albany County BullyingPrevention Task Force, which provides free programs and services for students, caregivers,educators and the public. A crucial component of the program is working to preventcyberbullying and how parents can be aware that it is happening to their child.
“As a parent I was deeply troubled to read about the Florida case and the case we had here in Albany County. While the Internet can prove to be a useful tool and a crucial part of our everyday lives, there are those who hide behind the screen and engage in cyberbullying,” saidMcCoy. “This law sends the message that we will not tolerate this behavior. I am confident thatthe court will validate the law and our desire to protect people while online.”
In the first case prosecuted after the law took effect, a youth from Cohoes was charged in 2011with 10 counts of cyberbullying for his role in creating a Facebook page featuring inappropriatecontent targeting students between the ages of 13 and 16.
He eventually pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor in the case. In two appeals cases, theconstitutionality of law has been upheld. In August the Court of Appeals agreed to hear the
case. It is likely that the case will be argued some time in 2014. The County Attorney’s office willargue the case. The Albany County statute is the first such cyberbullying law to be tested instate courts in the country.
In 2010 the county passed the law, which makes cyberbullying a misdemeanor crimepunishable by up to a year in jail. The Albany County statute is the first such cyberbullying lawto be tested in state courts in the country.
7/27/2019 McCoy Says Recent Events Show Need For Albany County Cyberbullying Law
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mccoy-says-recent-events-show-need-for-albany-county-cyberbullying-law 2/2
Cyberbullying is defined as repeated harm inflicted through the use of computer, cell phonesand other electronic devices. According to a 2011 survey from the federal Centers for DiseaseControl (CDC), 16 percent of students in grades 9-12 nationwide had been cyberbullied at somepoint in their lives.
Cyberbullying differs from traditional bullying in several ways:
A cyberbully can attack anonymously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
The bullying may go “viral,” with many people harassing the same target at once;
The bully does not see the emotional toll his bullying creates, allowing them to pushfurther than they might in a face-to-face relationship where the adverse effects areclearly perceived; and
Many parents and teachers do not have the technological know-how to monitor theseactions.
In 2012 the state enacted the Dignity for All Students Act, an anti-bullying measure passed bythe Legislature in 2010. The law requires schools to create policies to address and respond tothe growing issue of cyberbullying, regardless of whether the bullying occurs on or off of school
property.
Earlier this year the County Executive formed the Bullying Prevention Task Force, whichprovides programs and services for area students, faculty and caregivers on bullying prevention.In September the County Executive and the task force held an event at Farnsworth MiddleSchool in Guilderland to launch a county-wide campaign highlighting the work for the task forceand to raise public awareness around the issue.
The members of the task force are:
Nancy Lerner, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Albany County
Cathy Welling, BOCES of the Capital Region
James Shultis, PRIDE Center of the Capital Region
Jill Rafferty-Weinisch and Raydale Blaylock, Equinox Youth Services
Christin Guilder and Kaitlin Wax, Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual ViolenceCenter
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Mary Rozak Director of CommunicationsOffice of the Albany County Executive112 State Street, Room 825
Albany, NY 12207tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218 fax 518.447.5589 [email protected]
