James Jones has been in the news lately for defending his daughter with Cerebral Palsy.  The Florida girl was bullied on her school bus.  After learning of the bullying, Jones entered the school bus and gave a verbal tongue lashing to the bullies.  Jones has now been charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a school function.

The question is, should he have been charged.  A recent study found that 25% of U.S. students claim to have been bullied and 85% of U.S. students with disabilities claim to have been bullied.  It is obviously a huge problem.  A problem the school system has not adequately addressed.  Technically, Jones is probably guilty.  Even so, I don’t believe he should have been charged.

County attorneys and District Attorneys are elected.  The reason they are elected is that they are supposed to use good judgment in charging people with crimes.  If they fail to use good judgment, the people have the right to vote the out of office and replace them.

This father was merely speaking to the bullies in terms they could understand.  A form of communication in which they were well versed and that might actually change their behavior.  Some might argue that he should have just gone to the school and let them handle it.  Unfortunately, national statistics show that schools are largely ineffective at dealing with bullying.  Sometimes a dad has to do what a dad has to do.

The Florida prosecutor should have show some discretion and chosen not to charge James.  Hopefully a jury will do what the prosecutor should have done.  He should be acquitted.