HALL COUNTY — The Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Hall County School District are teaming up to send a clear message to students: making hoax school threats isn’t a joke — it’s a crime with serious consequences.
The agencies have released a new nine-minute educational video titled “Making School Threats: The Dangers and Consequences of Hoax Threats Against a School.” The professionally produced project features law enforcement leaders, school officials, court representatives, and local students. It was filmed at Hall County schools, with a student actor portraying the offender.
Sheriff Gerald Couch said the goal is to deter students from making threats, whether real or meant as pranks, and to encourage reporting suspicious behavior.
“Ideally, we would love to eliminate hoax threats altogether, but we know that’s not realistic,” Couch said. “My hope is that any student toying with the idea of making a threat — even as a joke — will see this video and have a change of heart. Beyond that, we want students, teachers, and parents who see something suspicious to have the courage to report their concerns.”
The release comes just days after a Hall County student was arrested when classmates overheard threats at a high school campus and reported it to school administrators.
Hall County Superintendent Will Schofield said hoax threats disrupt learning environments and create fear across school communities.
“Threats against schools — real or imagined — cause fear, interrupt learning, and have serious consequences,” Schofield said. “We’re thankful to the Sheriff’s Office for helping us share that message and protect the safety and peace of our schools.”
The sheriff’s office and school district are encouraging educators across the county — and beyond — to use the video in classrooms. Parents are also urged to watch it with their children to spark conversations about school safety and responsible behavior.
“Hopefully this opens the door for conversations about school safety,” Couch said.
