I've thought a lot about Phoebe Prince since her death by suicide in January. The 15-year-old young woman, a recent immigrant from Ireland to South Hadley, Massachusetts, was bullied by classmates multiple times a day, in a variety of ways. Phoebe was subjected to "traditional" bullying, like teasing and physical taunting, as well as bullying for these times, including threatening text messages.

Phoebe has stayed in the news because her death prompted the Massachusetts legislature to take a stand, charging nine teenagers involved in the bullying with felonies. Their specific behaviors, which prosecutors say contributed to Phoebe Prince's death, rather than the abstract concept of "bullying," are considered crimes.

As I read news coverage of the indictments of these young people, which occurred this week, I found myself with mixed emotions. Of course I support legal action which ultimately helps prevent suicide. But, I'm not sure that charging teenagers is really a part of a solution. Certainly these teens' behavior deserves attention and punishment of some sort, but there are others - adults - who also hold some responsibility for what happened with Phoebe.