’WPC ^š‚©žČåö-ЦŲĖĀø4([Ó`R$=Vr‚ŹšŹōóČ1Cšbƀ|³ĒļŻ¶ĒLD’ä_ÖšJ“k/Ō·Õ­ó™ChW™Ć@CŽõź% —„?xk`ŠyėzĄņc–…Ä”NÜŲįę ŗ€9c–(óž1zēś°ßžtb§ ģ {/ĖāŌę± öel=Yŗ=GŽ[µF\±Œx¦Ūa^|oŁ,SķcFG{sl‡öŹž")ÓŲ Š·ńy(„ŗcŚę2äfqėŁ€ėv%"š“½Xč2ŒØ—2VļÄ{ J’£Vš¢k”ż1Ā w6P jĻv†æE€Ņ»æĒmó@yLė>ā¤@±“ˆ§åž3ś×¼üĆ«J6~uPĄö̶Ÿ0)ĶŅūƒf—GsīĖÆ³KQ§ä`’Ā„ō\žĘń©'ń»Žķt9N9Ė)›R€Āœ…HĶ1éÕ§äXit”4­ÜŠėČ.Š@ķ°öé§žW£č<Æąń‡N<FĒēóą¦_™_š{EU°T¾"6Cķą^ŗ9ˆ*˜Óm€"¤V£ ›?/į½Iē~ØŪ›ōÓąŌūu~šßvå?<ā{»įX#ÉŠU N™ %ē 0Yķ ^ F wR 4V j y m{ ¢’ ’ 04 0DŃ Ö                                                                        Bė˜HP LaserJet 1200 Series PCL 6ČČȐČČČ0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(1”Ź$””Ō€ŠŻOˆXXŌŌUSUS.,Ōf½-0Ļ £{{.athryn3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ "CRIMINALIZATION FDAPwardship T]heCALJIC cuzRickyMacPhail(M(3‘Õ$¤¤Ż ƒ”Ź!ŻŌ€ŠÄĆˆXXŌŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Żą  ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó ĢŻ ƒ ‘Õ$ŻŌ€ŠÄĆˆXXŌŌUSUS.,Ōą  ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_Ōą ` ąIn€one€long€and€convoluted€sentence,€the€Penal€Code€defines€this€crime:Š ° ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ąš šAny€person€who€willfully€threatens€to€commit€a€crime€which€will€result€inŠ ° Šdeath€or€great€bodily€injury€to€another€person,€with€the€specific€intent€thatŠ ° Šthe€statement,€made€verbally,€in€writing,€or€by€means€of€electronicŠ ° Šcommunications€device,€is€to€be€taken€as€a€threat,€even€if€there€is€no€intentŠ °  Šof€actually€carrying€it€out,€which,€on€its€face€and€under€the€circumstances€inŠ °  Šwhich€it€is€made,€is€so€unequivocal,€unconditional,€immediate,€and€specificŠ °  Šast€to€convey€to€the€person€threatened,€a€gravity€of€purpose€and€anŠ °  Šimmediate€prospect€of€execution€of€the€threat,€and€thereby€causes€thatŠ °  Šperson€reasonably€to€be€in€sustained€fear€for€his€or€her€safety€or€for€his€orŠ °  Šher€immediate€familyššs€safety.ššŠ° ` (#` (# ŠĢą  ąPrior€to€2000,€this€crime€was€denominated€as€š šterrorist€threatsšš.€The€LegislatureŠ °  Šchanged€the€title€to€š šcriminal€threatsšš,€but€did€not€alter€the€language€of€the€statute.€(SeeŠ ° ŠņņPeople€v.€Toledoóó€(2001)€26€Cal.€4ņņthóó€221.) dŻ ƒ”Ź!ŻŌ€ŠÄĆˆXXŌŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€ī®yīˆŠÄĆŌņņņ ņŃ8€ÄĆŠˆddČ8ŃCHALLENGING€THE€CRIMINALIZATION€OF€IMMATUREŠ ° ŠPRETEEN€AND€TEENAGE€BEHAVIORó óóóŠ Ō$ ŠĢņ ņBy€Kathryn€Seligman,€FDAP€Staff€AttorneyŠ n ŠJanuary€2004ó óŠ B ’ ŠĢÓ  ÓŌ€ŠÄĆˆīī®yŌņņņņņ ņScenarios:Š Œ Ü Šó óóóóóA€high€school€student€throws€an€apple€core€at€a€wall.€It€accidentally€strikes€a€teacher€andŠ † Ö Šą0  ącauses€her€to€lose€consciousness.€(Charged€with€assault€by€means€for€force€likelyŠ † Ö Što€cause€great€bodily€injury)Š†Ö (#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąAn€11„year„old€throws€a€ball€at€playmate,€accidentally€breaking€his€arm.€(Charged€withŠ †Ö  Šbattery€causing€serious€bodily€injury)Š†Ö (#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąAn€eighth€grade€boy€tickles€a€female€classmate€and€sticks€his€hand€up€her€shirt,€touchingŠ †Ö  Šher€breast.€She€slaps€him€and€he€stops.€(Charged€with€sexual€battery)Š†Ö (#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąA€teenaged€boy€hugs€a€female€co„worker€in€greeting€and€pats€her€on€the€rear€end.€SheŠ †Ö Šprotests.€(Charged€with€sexual€battery)ІÖ(#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąA€13„year€old€boy€hits€a€classmate€in€the€back€of€the€head€when€the€teacher€momentarilyŠ †Ö Šleaves€the€classroom,€causing€no€lasting€injury.€(Charged€with€battery)ІÖ(#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąA€middle€school€student€burns€some€discarded€cardboard€inside€a€trash€can€located€at€herŠ †Ö Šhigh€school.€(Charged€with€arson)ІÖ(#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąA€high€school€students€writes€poems€in€which€he€describes€himself€as€š šdark,€dangerousŠ †Ö Šand€evilšš,€and€states€that€he€might€be€the€next€high€school€killer.€He€gives€theseŠ †Ö Špoems€to€fellow€students.€(Charged€with€making€criminal€threats)ІÖ(#(# ŠA€high€school€student€turns€in€a€painting€in€which€he€portrays€himself€shootingŠ †Ö Šą0  ąan€officer€in€the€back€of€the€head.€(Charged€with€making€a€criminal€threat.)ІÖ(#(# Šą0  ąą ° ąTwo€female€high€school€students€have€repeated€verbal€altercations.€One€students€tells€theŠ †Ö Šother€that€she€is€going€to€beat€her€up€or€kill€her.€(Charged€with€making€criminalŠ †Ö Šthreats.)І Ö(#(# ŠĢņņņ ņņņQuestionsóó:€In€each€case,€why€is€the€conduct€being€prosecuted€as€a€š šcrimešš€in€a€WelfareŠ †"Ö Šand€Institutions€Code€Section€602€juvenile€delinquency€proceedings?€Why€isnššt€theŠ €#Š Šconduct€punished€informally€by€school€officials,€parents,€or€other€responsible€adults?ó óóóŠ z$Ź Š1)Attitudes€towards€juveniles€in€our€society€today€(violence€and€sexuality)Š t%Ä  Š2)High€profile€juvenile€crime€and€school€shooting€casesŠ t&Ä!! Š3)The€increasing€presence€of€police€officers€and€security€personnel€on€school€campuses.Š  t'Ä"" Šņņņ ņArguing€that€Immature€Preteen€or€Teen€Behavior€Was€Improperly€Prosecuted€asŠ ° ŠCriminal€Conduct:ó óóóŠ Ŗś ŠĢ1)Try€and€couple€this€with€an€argument€that€insufficient€evidence€supports€an€element€(orŠ ¤ō Šelements)€of€the€charged€crime.Š ¤ō Š2)If€the€minor€is€under€14€at€the€time€of€the€conduct,€couple€an€improper€prosecutionŠ ¤ ō Šargument€with€an€assertion€that€the€presumption€of€incapacity€was€not€rebutted€š!š€theŠ ¤ ō Šprosecution€did€not€show€by€clear€proof€that€the€minor€appreciated€the€wrongfulness€ofŠ ¤ ō Šhis€act€at€the€time€he€committed€it.€(See€Penal€Code€section€26)Š ¤ ō Š3)Of€course,€you€will€have€a€much€better€chance€on€appeal€if€trial€counsel€raised€either€ofŠ ¤ ō  Šthese€arguments€or€specifically€challenged€the€prosecution€of€the€conduct€in€a€juvenileŠ ¤ō  Šcriminal€proceeding.Š ¤ō  ŠĢņņņ ņņņQuestionsóó:ó óóó€ņņņ ņShould€minors€who€engage€in€such€immature€behavior€be€subject€to€theŠ ¤ō  Šsanctions€and€consequences€of€section€602€wardship?€Do€the€imposition€of€theseŠ ¤ō  Šsanctions€have€the€same€effect€on€juveniles€as€they€would€on€adults?ó óóóŠ žī ŠĢņņņ ņņņSupporting€Case€Lawóóó óóó:Š ˜č ŠĢA€disposition€under€section€602€š šcarries€a€stigma€of€criminal€conductšš.€It€is€not€justifiedŠ ˜č Šif€the€minor€is€under€14€and€did€not€appreciate€the€wrongfulness€of€his€acts.€Such€casesŠ ˜č Šwould€be€better€handled€under€Welfare€and€Institutions€Code€section€601.€Section€601Š ˜č Šallows€the€juvenile€court€to€take€jurisdiction€over€minors€who€habitually€refuse€to€obeyŠ ˜č Štheir€parents€or€guardians,€or€are€beyond€their€control.Š ˜č Šņņņ ņIn€re€Michael€B.óó€(1975)€44€Cal.€App.€3d€443,€446ó óŠ ˜č ŠĢA€declaration€of€section€602€wardship€has€severe€consequences.€When€usedŠ –ę Šinappropriately,€these€consequences€can€endanger€both€the€child€and€society.€DeclarationŠ –ę Šof€Section€602€wardship€makes€it€more€likely€that€the€minor€will€end€up€in€a€restrictiveŠ – ę Šout„of„home€placement,€including€the€California€Youth€Authority€š šwhere€he€will€comeŠ –!ę Šinto€contact€with€many€youths€who€are€well€versed€in€criminalityšš.€Moreover,€the€juvenileŠ –"ę Šoffender€is€classed€as€a€š šdelinquentšš,€a€status€involving€only€slightly€less€stigma€than€theŠ –#ę Šterm€š šcriminalšš€applied€to€adults,€and€his€juvenile€records€may€haunt€him€into€adulthood.€Š –$ę  Šņņņ ņIn€re€Gladys€R.óó€(1970)€1€Cal.€3d€855,€864„67,€see€particularly,€€fn.€21Š –%ę ! ŠĢņņņņConsideróó:€When€the€offense€alleged€in€the€section€602€petition€is€a€sexual€crime,€theŠ ’'ā"# Šminor€will€be€labeled€not€only€as€a€š šdelinquentšš,€but€also€as€a€š šsexual€offenderšš.óóó óŠ  Œ(Ü#$ Šņņņ ņWhen€there€is€insufficient€evidence€that€the€alleged€crime€has€been€committed,€theŠ ° Šjuvenile€court€should€not€sustain€a€section€602€petition€and€declare€wardship€in€orderŠ Ŗś Što€redress€a€general€social€problem€or€send€a€message€to€the€minor€and€his€peers.Š ¤ō ŠĢIn€re€Gavin€T.óó€(1998)€66€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€238€[First€District,€Division€Five]ó ó:Š ˜č ŠThe€minor€was€a€15„year€old€high€school€student.€During€the€lunch€period,€he€threw€theŠ œ ģ Šremainder€of€an€apple€core€toward€a€classroom€wall€some€distance€away.€Usually,€no€oneŠ œ ģ Šwas€in€the€classroom€during€lunch.€However,€on€this€day,€a€teacher€was€inside.€TheŠ œ ģ Šthrown€apple€sailed€through€a€12„inch€gap€in€the€partially€closed€classroom€door€andŠ œ ģ Šstruck€the€teacher€in€the€head.€The€teacher€was€knocked€to€the€floor€and€lostŠ œ ģ  Šconsciousness€for€a€few€minutes.Š œģ  ŠĢA€section€602€petition€was€filed€in€juvenile€court€alleging€that€the€minor€had€committedŠ œģ  Šan€assault€with€a€deadly€weapon€or€by€means€of€force€likely€to€cause€great€bodily€injury.Š œģ  ŠAt€the€conclusion€of€the€contested€jurisdictional€hearing,€the€juvenile€court€found€thatŠ œģ  Šminor€did€not€intend€to€hit€the€teacher€with€the€apple;€he€merely€intended€to€see€it€splatterŠ œģ Šagainst€the€wall.€Nevertheless,€the€juvenile€court€sustained€the€aggravated€assault€chargeŠ œģ Šin€order€to€š šsend€a€messagešš€to€appellantššs€classmates€that€his€reckless€act€was€wrong.Š œģ ŠĢThe€Court€of€Appeal€vacated€the€juvenile€courtššs€order€with€instructions€to€find€theŠ œģ Šassault€allegation€untrue€and€dismiss€the€petition.€The€Court€concluded€that€š!š€as€theŠ œģ Šjuvenile€court€had€found€š!š€the€minor€had€lacked€the€intent€to€strike€the€teacher€or€theŠ œģ Šgeneral€intent€to€act€in€a€manner€inherently€dangerous€to€human€life.€The€Court€alsoŠ œģ Šfound€that€a€half„eaten€apple€does€not€qualify€as€a€deadly€weapon.€The€minorššs€urge€toŠ œģ Šwatch€the€discarded€apple€core€splatter€against€the€wall€š šmay€have€been€juvenile€and,Š œģ Štherefore,€rather€appropriate€to€appellantššs€agešš,€but€it€did€not€constitute€the€criminalŠ œģ Šintent€necessary€to€sustain€a€charge€of€aggravated€assault.€Thus,€the€juvenile€court€wasŠ œģ Šrequired€by€law€to€find€the€criminal€assault€allegation€untrue.Š œģ ŠĢFinally,€the€Court€of€Appeal€addressed€the€impropriety€of€the€minorššs€conduct€beingŠ œ!ģ Šprosecuted€as€a€criminal€allegation:€š šThe€record€does€not€clearly€reveal€why€this€relativelyŠ œ"ģ Šminor€school€disciplinary€matter€was€elevated€to€the€charge€and€trial€of€an€aggravatedŠ œ#ģ Šfelony€assault€proscribed€by€section€245".€(ņņIn€re€Gavin€T.,€supra.óó,€at€240,€fn.€1)€It€alsoŠ œ$ģ  Šcriticized€the€juvenile€court€for€sustaining€a€section€602€petition€in€order€to€send€aŠ œ%ģ ! Šmessage€to€high€school€students:€š šWhile€the€juvenile€courtššs€desire€to€send€a€message€toŠ œ&ģ!" Šappellant€and€his€classmates€that€negligent€or€reckless€behavior€is€not€approved€is€notŠ œ'ģ"# Šwholly€inappropriate,€we€cannot€sustain€the€judicial€response€it€used€to€convey€thatŠ œ(ģ#$ Šmessage....[T]he€courts€should€not€ignore€the€law€and€find€noncriminal€behavior€to€be€aŠ œ)ģ$% Šfelonious€crime€merely€to€send€a€message€of€disapproval€for€educational€purposes.šš€(ņņId.óó€atŠ œ*ģ%& Š242.)€Finally,€the€Court€noted€that€this€act€of€throwing€an€apple€against€a€wall€mightŠ œ+ģ&' Šappropriately€result€in€š ša€warning,€reproval,€or€other€discipline€at€schoolšš.€However,€itŠ ° Šwas€not€a€felonious€crime:€As€much€as€we€disapprove€of€throwing€apples,€we€disapproveŠ ° Ševen€more€of€finding€people€guilty€of€crimes€they€did€not€commit.šš.€(ņņIdóó.€at€242.)Š ° ŠĢņņņ ņPeople€v.€Arnoldóó€(1992)€6€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€18ó óŠ ° ŠThe€defendant€was€a€high€school€algebra€teacher€and€wrestling€coach.€He€was€convictedŠ ® ž Šof€five€felony€counts€and€six€misdemeanor€counts€arising€from€sexual€conduct€with€twoŠ ® ž Šfemale€high€school€students.€The€Court€of€Appeal€reversed€one€count€of€sexual€batteryŠ ® ž Šupon€finding€that€the€prosecution€had€failed€to€prove€the€required€element€of€unlawfulŠ ® ž Šrestraint.€The€student,€who€was€infatuated€with€the€teacher,€had€agreed€to€go€running€withŠ ® ž  Šhim,€although€she€anticipated€that€he€might€make€sexual€advances.€She€then€walked€overŠ ®ž  Što€him€when€he€summoned€her€and€participated€willingly€when€he€grabbed€her€by€theŠ ®ž  Šbuttocks,€kissed€her,€and€then€reached€under€her€shirt€and€touched€her€breasts.€Only€thenŠ ®ž  Šdid€she€push€him€away.€He€stopped.€Applying€established€law,€the€Court€held€that€theseŠ ®ž  Šacts€did€not€constitute€š šunlawful€restraintšš.Š ®ž  ŠĢThe€Court€declined€to€uphold€the€charge€in€order€to€redress€a€social€problem:€š šWe€areŠ ®ž Šparticularly€sensitive€to€the€fact€that€a€minor€student,€infatuated€with€a€teacher,€can€beŠ ®ž Šsusceptible€to€participating€willingly€in€an€activity€that€suddenly€turns€into€inappropriateŠ ®ž Šsexual€conduct.€The€conduct€of€the€teacher€who€takes€advantage€of€such€a€student,€evenŠ ®ž Šin€the€absence€of€ššunlawful€restraintšš€is€reprehensiblešš.€However,€such€conduct€does€notŠ ®ž Šviolate€the€sexual€battery€statute€which€š šwas€not€designed€to€address€this€type€ofŠ ®ž Šsituation;€it€is€neither€age€nor€relationship€specificšš.€(ņņPeople€v.€Arnold,€supraóó,€at€29„30.)Š  ®ž Šņņņņņ ņŌ‡ī®yīˆŠÄĆŌEXPANDING€THE€REACH€OF€PENAL€CODE€SECTION€422:Š ° ŠPROSECUTING€JUVENILE€EXPRESSIONS€OF€ANGER€AND€ANGSTŠ Š  ŠAS€š šCRIMINAL€THREAŌ#†ŠÄĆˆīī®y·0#ŌTSššó óóóóóŠ š@ ŠĢą  ąPenal€Code€section€422€proscribes€and€punishes€š šcriminal€threatsšš€š!š€willfullyŠ  ` Šthreatening€to€commit€a€crime€which€will€result€in€death€or€great€bodily€injury€to€anotherŠ  ` Šperson€under€specified€circumstances.׃ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׊  ` ŠĢą  ąThe€prosecution€must€establish€six€elements€to€prove€a€violation€of€section€422:Š  ` Š1)that€the€defendant€willfully€threatened€to€commit€a€crime€which€„„€if€actually€committedŠ `  Š„„€would€result€in€death€or€substantial€bodily€injury€to€another€person;€2)that€the€defendantŠ `  Šmade€the€threat€specifically€intending€that€it€be€taken€seriously€as€a€threat,€even€if€he€hadŠ `  Šno€intent€of€actually€carrying€it€out;€3)that€the€threat€was€contained€in€a€statement€madeŠ `  Šverbally,€in€writing,€or€by€means€of€an€electronic€communication€device€(e.g.€telephone€orŠ `  Šcomputer);€4)that€the€statement€was€a€true€threat€š!š€on€its€face€and€under€theŠ ` Šcircumstances,€it€was€so€unequivocal,€unconditional,€immediate€and€specific,€as€to€conveyŠ ` Što€the€person€threatened€a€gravity€of€purpose€and€the€immediate€prospect€of€execution;Š ` Š5)that€the€threat€actually€caused€the€person€threatened€to€be€in€sustained€fear€for€his€ownŠ ` Šsafety€or€immediate€familyššs€safety;€and€6)that€this€fear€was€reasonable€under€theŠ ` Šcircumstances.€(See€ņņPeople€v.€Toledoóó€(2001)€26€Cal.€4ņņthóó€221,€227„28;€CALJIC€9.94.)Š ` ŠŠ  ` Šą  ąWhat€if€the€defendant€voices€or€writes€a€true€threat€intending€it€to€be€takenŠ ° Šseriously,€but€the€person€threatened€does€not€suffer€the€sustained€fear€that€he€reasonablyŠ ° Šcould€have€felt€under€the€circumstances?€According€to€our€state€Supreme€Court,€thatŠ ° Šdefendant€is€guilty€of€attempted€criminal€threat.€(ņņPeople€v.€Toledoóó€(2001)€26€Cal.€4ņņthóó€atŠ ° Š230„34.)€A€defendant€makes€an€attempted€criminal€threat€when€he€engages€in€all€theŠ ° Šconduct€which€would€support€a€conviction€of€section€422,€but€that€crime€is€not€completedŠ °  Šbecause€of€some€fortuity€outside€the€defendantššs€control€š!š€i.e.€a€written€threat€isŠ °  Šintercepted,€or€the€victim€does€not€suffer€the€sustained€fear€that€a€reasonable€personŠ °  Šwould€experience.Š °  Š€Ģą  ąWhat€if€the€person€making€the€threat€is€a€minor?€Anyone€who€has€ever€been€aŠ °  Šteenager€or€raised€one€knows€that€many€adolescents€experience€feeling€of€alienation,Š °  Šangst€and€anger.€If€we€are€lucky,€they€will€express€these€feelings€verbally€or€artisticallyŠ °  Š(in€poems,€pictures€or€song€lyrics)€without€resorting€to€behavior€which€harms€themselvesŠ °  Šor€others.€And€yet€increasingly,€the€government€is€prosecuting€teenagersšš€threats€andŠ ° Šangry€expressions€as€š šcriminal€threatsšš€š!š€violations€of€Penal€Code€section€422.Š ° ŠProponents€of€this€approach€might€assert€that€we€want€to€identify€angry€teenagers€andŠ ° Šsubject€them€to€the€sanctions€of€the€juvenile€delinquency€system€before€they€š šact€outšš.€Š ° ŠBut€are€such€threats€really€precursors€of€violent€behavior?€€And€arenššt€there€moreŠ ° Šconstructive€ways€to€intervene€without€subjecting€angry€teenagers€to€criminal€prosecutionŠ ° Šand€the€stigma€of€š šjuvenile€delinquencyšš?Š ° ŠĢą  ąIn€recent€years,€high€school€students€have€had€their€verbal€outbursts,€poems€andŠ ° Špaintings€labeled€as€š šcriminal€threatsšš,€and€allegations€that€they€violated€Penal€CodeŠ ° Šsection€422€by€these€expressions€have€been€sustained€by€the€juvenile€courts.€In€twoŠ ° Špublished€cases,€the€Courts€of€Appeal€have€reversed€the€lower€courtsšš€jurisdictionalŠ ° Šfindings.€(ņņIn€re€Ricky€T.óó€€(2001)€87€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€1132€[minorššs€verbal€threat€to€teacher];Š ° ŠņņIn€re€Ryan€D.óó€(2002)€100€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€854€[painting€depicting€minor€shooting€policeŠ ° Šofficer].)€However,€in€several€unpublished€cases,€the€appellate€courts€have€upheldŠ °  Šcriminal€threat€findings€for€verbal€outbursts€that€questionably€qualify€as€true€threats.Š °! ŠFinally,€€in€another€published€case,€the€Sixth€District€Court€of€Appeal€upheld€the€juvenileŠ °" Šcourtššs€finding€that€the€minorššs€dark€poem€qualified€as€a€criminal€threat.(€ņņIn€re€George€T.óóŠ °# Š(2002)€102€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€1422.)€The€California€Supreme€Court€granted€review€in€ņņGeorgeŠ °$  ŠT.óó€(S111780),€and€the€scope€of€the€€š šcriminal€threatsšš€statute€€is€pending€before€the€highŠ °%!! Šcourt.Š °&"" ŠŠ  °'## Šņ ņņņIn€re€George€T.óó€(2002)€102€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€1422€[Sixth€District;€this€case€cannot€be€citedŠ ° Špending€California€Supreme€Court€review]:€Does€dark€poetry€qualify€as€a€criminalŠ ®ž Šthreat?ó óŠ ¬ü ŠĢThe€minor€in€this€case€was€a€high€school€student,€who€goes€by€the€name€of€š šJuliusšš.€OnŠ Ŗś ŠFriday€afternoon,€while€sitting€in€his€honorššs€English€class€(but€not€in€response€to€aŠ Ŗ ś Šschool€assignment),€Julius€wrote€a€poem€entitled€š šDark€Poetry:€Facesšš.€In€this€poem,Š Ŗ ś ŠJulius€included€the€following€language:Š Ŗ ś ŠĢą  ąą ` ąš šFor€I€am€Dark,€Destructive,€&€Dangerous.Š Ŗ ś  Šą  ąą ` ąI€slap€on€my€face€of€happiness€but€inside€I€am€evil!!Š Ŗś  Šą  ąą ` ąFor€I€can€be€the€next€kid€to€bring€guns€to€kill€students€at€school.Š Ŗś  Šą  ąą ` ąSo€Parents€watch€your€children€cuz€Iššm€BACK!!ššŠ Ŗś  ŠĢJulius€was€new€to€the€high€school.€On€that€Friday€afternoon,€he€gave€his€poem,€š šFacesšš€toŠ Ŗś  Štwo€female€students,€neither€of€whom€he€knew€well.€First,€toward€the€end€of€EnglishŠ Ŗś Šclass,€he€moved€to€a€seat€close€to€Mary€and€handed€her€two€poems.€On€top€was€a€note€thatŠ Ŗś Šsaid:€š šThese€poems€describe€me€and€my€feelings.€Tell€me€if€they€describe€you€and€yourŠ Ŗś Šfeelings.šš€As€he€handed€Mary€the€poems,€Julius€appeared€serious;€he€was€not€laughingŠ Ŗś Šand€he€didnššt€say€he€was€kidding.€He€asked€Mary€if€the€school€had€a€poetry€club.€MaryŠ Ŗś Šread€š šFacesšš€while€they€were€still€in€English€class€and€became€visibly€upset.€She€handedŠ Ŗś Šthe€poem€back€to€Julius,€who€put€it€away€without€saying€anything.€Mary€found€the€poemŠ Ŗś Špersonally€threatening€to€her.€She€believed€that€Julius€was€threatening€to€kill€her€and€otherŠ Ŗś Šstudents€at€the€high€school.€Mary€remained€frightened€throughout€the€entire€weekend€andŠ Ŗś Šthe€following€week.€She€was€afraid€to€go€to€school.€Mary€e„mailed€her€regular€EnglishŠ Ŗś Šteacher,€who€had€been€absent€from€school€on€Friday.€She€relayed€the€contents€of€š šFacesšš,Š Ŗś Šand€the€teacher€called€the€police.€Š Ŗś ŠĢOn€Friday€afternoon,€Julius€had€also€handed€the€poem€š šFacesšš€to€another€student,€Erin.Š Ŗ ś ŠErin€put€the€poem€in€her€pocket€and€did€not€actually€read€it€until€the€next€Monday.€WhenŠ Ŗ!ś ŠErin€read€the€poem,€she€was€also€very€scared.€She€believed€that€her€life€and€her€friendsššŠ Ŗ"ś Šlives€were€in€danger.€Erin€was€still€scared€at€the€time€of€the€jurisdictional€hearing.Š Ŗ#ś ŠĢJulius€was€ultimately€charged€and€prosecuted,€in€a€Section€602€proceeding,€for€makingŠ Ŗ%ś ! Šš šcriminal€threatsšš€to€Mary€and€Erin.€Julius€claimed€that€he€was€just€kidding€when€heŠ Ŗ&ś!" Šwrote€the€poem.€He€did€not€intend€his€imaginative€writing€to€be€taken€as€a€threat.€HeŠ Ŗ'ś"# Šwrote€š šFacesšš€because€he€was€having€a€bad€day.€It€was€just€a€creative€expression€ofŠ Ŗ(ś#$ Šnegative€feelings.Š Ŗ)ś$% ŠĢThe€juvenile€court€sustained€the€allegations€that€Julius€had€made€criminal€threats€againstŠ Ŗ+ś&' ŠMary€and€Erin.€The€Court€of€Appeal€found€sufficient€evidence€to€support€the€lowerŠ ° Šcourtššs€finding€that€Julius€had€violated€section€422.€First,€looking€at€the€surroundingŠ ° Šcircumstances€as€well€as€the€words€of€š šFacesšš,€the€Court€found€that€Julius€made€an€actualŠ ° Šthreat€to€bring€guns€to€school€and€shoot€students,€and€that€he€specifically€intended€that€hisŠ ° Šwords€be€taken€as€a€threat.€They€did€not€believe€that€he€was€just€kidding€or€expressingŠ ° Šfeelings€of€teenaged€angst.€Second,€the€Court€found€there€was€sufficient€evidence€that€thisŠ °  Šwas€a€š štrue€threatšš€š!š€so€unequivocal,€unconditional,€immediate€and€specific€as€to€conveyŠ °  Što€Mary€and€Erin€his€gravity€of€purpose€and€the€immediate€prospect€that€the€threat€wouldŠ °  Šbe€executed.€(It€did€not€matter€that€Julius€had€written€š šI€can€be€the€next€kidšš€to€bring€gunsŠ °  Što€school€and€had€not€written€š šI€willšš.)€Finally,€the€Court€found€that€both€Mary€and€ErinŠ °  Šexperienced€sustained€fear€for€their€personal€safety€as€a€result€of€reading€š šFacesšš€and€thatŠ °  Šthis€fear€was€reasonable.Š °  ŠĢJustice€Rushing€dissented€from€the€majorityššs€opinion€in€ņņGeorge€T.óó€and€wrote€anŠ °  Šinteresting€opinion€which€delineates€some€of€the€arguments€likely€to€be€made€before€theŠ ° ŠSupreme€Court.€Justice€Rushing€urged€that€Juliusššs€poem€š šFacesšš€be€considered€inŠ ° Šcontext.€It€was€š šdark€poetryšš,€not€an€actual€threat:€š šThe€record€is€devoid€of€any€evidenceŠ ° Šshowing€that€the€poem€at€issue€her€was€either€a€threat€on€its€face,€or€a€threat€under€theŠ ° Šcircumstances€in€which€it€was€made.€And€like€much€of€the€poetry€written€today€in€highŠ ° Šschools€and€elsewhere,€it€was€mere€hyperbolešš.€Justice€Rushing€opined€that€when€JuliusŠ ° Šgave€the€poem€to€Mary€and€Erin,€and€also€asked€both€girls€if€there€was€a€poetry€club€at€theŠ ° Šschool,€he€did€not€intend€to€make€a€threat.€Rather,€he€wanted€to€make€new€friends€basedŠ ° Šon€a€shared€interest€in€poetry.€This€was€a€lonely€boy,€new€to€the€school,€who€tried€to€reachŠ ° Šout€š!š€however,€inappropriately;€he€was€not€a€gun„toting€criminal.€Next,€Justice€RushingŠ ° Šanalyzed€the€language€about€bringing€a€gun€to€school€and€held€that€it€did€not€qualify€as€anŠ ° Šš šunequivocal,€unconditional,€immediate€or€specificšš€threat,€conveying€a€gravity€ofŠ ° Špurpose.€While€acknowledging€that€Mary€and€Erin€were€actually€scared€by€Juliusššs€poem,Š ° ŠJustice€Rushing€concluded€that€their€sustained€fear€was€not€reasonable.€Finally,€JusticeŠ ° ŠRushing€stated€that€school€authorities€were€right€to€take€Juliusššs€poem€seriously.Š °  ŠHowever,€they€should€have€talked€to€him€about€his€dark€feelings€and€not€turned€him€overŠ °! Što€the€police€to€be€prosecuted€for€criminal€threats.Š °" ŠĢņņņ ņIn€re€Ricky€T.óó€(2001)€87€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€1132€[First€District,€Division€Four]ó óŠ °$  ŠĢThe€Court€of€Appeal€reversed€the€juvenile€courtššs€finding€that€the€minorššs€verbal€outburstŠ ®&ž!" Što€a€teacher€qualified€as€a€š šcriminal€threatšš€within€the€meaning€of€section€422.€The€minor,Š ®'ž"# ŠRicky,€was€a€16„year„old€high€school€student.€Ricky€left€class€to€use€the€restroom.€WhenŠ ®(ž#$ Šhe€returned,€the€classroom€door€was€locked.€Ricky€pounded€angrily€and€when€the€teacherŠ ®)ž$% Šopened€the€door,€it€hit€Ricky€in€the€head.€Ricky€responded€by€cursing€the€teacher,€statingŠ ®*ž%& Šeither€š šIššm€going€to€get€youšš€or€š šIššm€going€to€kick€your€assšš.€However,€he€made€noŠ ®+ž&' Šphysical€movements€or€gestures€toward€the€teacher.€The€teacher€felt€threatened€and€sentŠ ° ŠRicky€to€the€office.€He€was€suspended€for€five€days,€and€thereafter€prosecuted€in€a€sectionŠ ° Š602€proceeding€for€making€a€criminal€threat.Š ° ŠĢThe€Court€of€Appeal€found€that€several€elements€of€section€422€were€not€proven€beyond€aŠ ° Šreasonable€doubt.€First,€Rickyššs€angry€utterance€did€not€qualify€as€a€true€threat.€The€CourtŠ °  Šstressed€that€one€must€look€beyond€the€words€used€(š šIššm€going€to€get€youšš)€and€considerŠ °  Šthe€surrounding€circumstances.€€Ō_ŌRickyŌ_Ōššs€words€were€vague€and€ambiguous.€Also,Š °  Šconsidering€he€surrounding€circumstances,€there€was€no€immediacy€to€the€threat,€noŠ °  Šprospect€of€imminent€execution,€and€no€gravity€of€purpose€as€would€be€evidenced€byŠ °  Šaccompanying€conduct.€Second,€the€Court€found€the€teacherššs€fear€was€momentary€andŠ °  Štransitory,€not€the€sustained€fear€required€by€statute.Š °  ŠĢThe€Court€noted€that€the€teacherššs€act€of€sending€Ricky€to€the€office€for€discipline€was€anŠ °  Šappropriate€response€to€the€minorššs€utterance€of€š šintemperate,€disrespectful€remarks€toŠ ° Š[the€teacher]€in€the€presence€of€a€classroom€full€of€studentsšš.€However,€the€section€602Š ° Šadjudication€was€not€appropriate:Š ° ŠĢą  ąą ` ąš šIt€is€this€courtššs€opinion€that€section€422€was€not€enacted€toą x ąą Š ąŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąpunish€an€angry€adolescentššs€utterances,€unless€they€otherwiseŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąqualify€as€terrorist€threats€under€that€statute.€Appellantššs€statementŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąwas€an€emotional€response€to€an€accident€rather€than€a€deathŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąthreat€that€induced€sustained€fear.šš€Although€what€appellantŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ądid€was€wrong,€we€are€hesitant€to€change€this€school€confrontationŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąbetween€a€student€and€a€teacher€to€a€terrorist€threat.€Students€whoŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąmisbehave€should€be€taught€a€lesson,€but€not,€as€in€this€case,Š ° Šą  ąą ` ąa€penal€one.šš€(ņņIn€re€Ricky€T.,€supra.óó,€at€1141.)Š ° ŠĢĢņņņ ņIn€re€Ryan€D.óó€(2002)€100€Cal.€App.€4ņņthóó€854€[Third€District]ó óŠ °! ŠĢThe€Third€District€Court€of€Appeal€reversed€the€juvenile€courtššs€finding€that€the€minorššsŠ ®#ž Šviolent€painting€was€a€criminal€threat.€The€minor,€Ryan,€was€cited€by€Officer€MacPhail,€aŠ ®$ž  Šhigh€school€police€officer,€for€possession€of€marijuana.€One€month€later,€Ryan€turned€inŠ ®%ž ! Šan€art€project€for€a€his€high€school€painting€class.€In€his€painting,€Ryan€showed€a€youngŠ ®&ž!" Šperson€in€a€hooded€sweatshirt€discharging€a€handgun€into€the€back€of€the€head€of€a€femaleŠ ®'ž"# Špolice€officer.€She€had€blood€on€her€hair,€and€pieces€of€her€flesh€and€face€were€beingŠ ®(ž#$ Šblown€off.€The€officer€was€wearing€badge€No.€67€(Officer€MacPhailššs€badge€number).Š ®)ž$% ŠThe€art€teacher€found€the€painting€š šdisturbingšš,€and€she€took€it€to€a€school€administrator.Š ®*ž%& ŠThe€next€day,€the€assistant€principle€confronted€the€minor€about€the€painting.€He€admittedŠ ®+ž&' Šthat€he€was€the€shooter€and€that€Officer€MacPhail€was€the€victim;€he€said€he€painted€theŠ ° Špicture€because€he€was€angry€at€MacPhail€for€citing€him€for€possession€for€marijuana.Š ° ŠLater€that€day,€the€painting€was€shown€to€MacPhail.€It€made€her€š šuncomfortablešš,€and€sheŠ ° Šstayed€away€from€school€for€a€few€days.€Eventually,€Ryan€was€prosecuted€for€making€aŠ ° Šcriminal€threat.Š ° ŠĢThe€Court€of€Appeal€concluded€that€the€painting€was€a€š špictorial€rantingšš€reflectingŠ °  ŠRyanššs€anger€at€Officer€MacPhail.€But€it€did€not€qualify€as€a€violation€of€section€422.Š °  ŠFirst,€it€was€not€clear€that€the€painting€qualified€as€a€statement€made€in€writing.€With€itsŠ °  Šuse€of€symbolism,€caricature€and€make„believe,€a€painting€š!š€even€a€graphically€violentŠ °  Špainting€š!š€is€necessarily€ambiguous.€Although€the€surrounding€circumstances€may€resolveŠ °  Šthis€ambiguity,€a€painting,€standing€alone,€is€not€a€criminal€threat.€Second,€assuming€theŠ °  Špainting€depicted€a€threat,€the€prosecution€did€not€prove€that€Ryan€intended€to€convey€thatŠ °  Šthreat€to€Officer€MacPhail.€Although,€the€defendant€need€not€personally€communicate€theŠ °  Šthreat€to€the€victim,€he€must€intend€that€it€be€conveyed€to€the€victim.€Here,€Ryan€turned€inŠ ° Šhis€painting€to€the€art€teacher€for€class€credit,€a€full€month€after€MacPhail€had€cited€himŠ ° Šfor€marijuana€possession.€There€was€no€showing€that€he€specifically€intended€that€it€beŠ ° Šshown€to€Officer€MacPhail.€Finally,€looking€at€the€painting€on€its€face€and€examining€theŠ ° Šsurrounding€circumstances,€any€threat€conveyed€by€the€painting€was€no€sufficientlyŠ ° Šunequivocal,€unconditional,€immediate€and€specific€so€as€to€convey€a€gravity€purpose€andŠ ° Šan€immediate€prospect€of€execution.Š ° ŠĢThe€Court€concluded€that€the€art€teacher€was€right€to€show€the€painting€to€school€officialsŠ ° Šand€that€they€were€right€to€talk€to€Ryan€about€his€artistic€depiction€of€rage.€However,€theŠ ° Šmatter€did€not€warrant€criminal€treatment:Š ° ŠĢą  ąą ` ąš š€We€certainly€find€no€fault€with€the€school€authorities€and€theŠ ° Šą  ąą ` ąpolice€treating€the€matter€seriously.€The€painting€was€a€graphic,€Š ° Šą  ąą ` ąif€mythical€depiction€of€the€brutal€murder€of€Officer€MacPhail.Š °  Šą  ąą ` ąWithout€question,€it€was€intemperate€and€demonstrated€extremelyŠ °! Šą  ąą ` ąpoor€judgment.€But€the€criminal€law€does€not,€and€cannotŠ °" Šą  ąą ` ąimplement€a€zero„tolerance€policy€concerning€the€expressiveŠ °# Šą  ąą ` ądepiction€of€violence.šš€(ņņIn€re€Ryan€D.óó,€supra.,€at€865.)Š °$  ŠĢĢĢĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąą Č ąą  ąą x ąą Š ą