PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) – Pennsylvania State Police and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office is asking parents to talk with their kids following school threats made across the Midstate.

“For the parents, for the caregivers, have those conversations with your kids, if their school age, let them know that law enforcement does take these seriously,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Adam Reed.

Any threats made towards a school and its students, even if it’s a joke or prank may result in serious consequences.

“It’s something that we are very concerned about. We take it very seriously here in the district attorney’s office, and it is something we are going to prosecute to the fullest extent that we can. There is no funny prank that involves making a threat. It’s not funny. It’s not something that anyone is going to laugh at,” said Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack.

Depending on the threat, “You can go anywhere from a misdemeanor up to a up to a felony charge and being prosecuted. You could wind up being detained in a juvenile detention facility. You can wind up being adjudicated and sent away to a juvenile detention facility,” said McCormack.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

abc27 Evening Newsletter

Depending on the circumstances, your kid could be charged as an adult for making a threat.

“Even if you are a minor, you could be looking at some juvenile charges. And again, you’re going to be looking at something that potentially is on your record and you’re going to have to deal with in the court system,” said Reed.

What some kids may not understand is that something on their record can affect their future.

McCormack says they frequently hear from attorney’s representing juveniles asking there office not to go through with the prosecution.

“It’s going to affect their ability to get into college and and all of those different ramifications. So, it has an even if you’re not being detained and you’re not being sent to a juvenile detention facility, it does have potential long-term implications,” said McCormack.

McCormack says social media plays a huge role in school threats.

“Social media is so easy to just get on a phone and to to type something out and send it without even thinking. You definitely have to think before you post something on social media,” said McCormack.

What’s common in some of these recent school threats is that tips are being submitted through Safe2Say Something . It’s a program that allows students or anyone to send anonymous reports of safety concerns.

Tips can be submitted online or through their app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.