The Norfolk Anti-Crime Council brings together some 35 leaders from the criminal
justice and social service communities in Norfolk County, including court officials, police leaders, school department officials, and members of faith organizations, social service agencies and other community-based groups.

The goal of the Council is two-fold
First, quarterly meetings are held on specifically targeted problems. Those meetings normally feature local or national speakers expert in solutions being developed or implemented elsewhere to address those problems. The expertise of the speakers,
as well as the broad experience and knowledge of the Council membership, allows extensive exploration of the dimensions of the targeted problem in Norfolk County
and concrete discussion about how emerging solutions can be implemented locally.

The Council's target problems have included Internet safety for children, suicide prevention, high risk teen sexual behavior, the illegal use of prescription drugs, bullying
in schools, underage drinking, and the interconnection between learning disabilities and criminality.

Second, the Council seeks to translate the education and information provided in the quarterly meetings into programs or resources that can be implemented or distributed in the towns of the Norfolk District.

One example: following suicide presentations by the Samaritans and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at one meeting, Council members identified the lack of available printed materials and informational resources on the subject as a need the Council could address. Working with South Shore Hospital staff and the Department of Mental Health, the Council published a youth suicide prevention brochure to help adults who work with children identify the early warning signs of depression in youth and a comprehensive resource guide to help them intervene and contact help. Approximately 10,000 copies of these materials were distributed to schools, faith organizations, police departments and other organizations throughout the Norfolk District.

Following a Council meeting on emerging trends in high risk teen sexual behavior, a
task force of medical, education, law enforcement and psychological experts was
formed to explore ways to inform parents and adults dealing with this growing aspect
of adolescence.

The Council is also working to bring a new program to Norfolk County to combat recidivism by addressing the strong relationship between learning disabilities and certain kinds of crime.

If you would like more information or have any suggestions for topics that might be brought before the Norfolk Anti-Crime Council, please contact:

Kathleen A. Barnett
Executive Director
Norfolk Anti-Crime Council
45 Shawmut Road
Canton, MA 02021
(781) 830-4800, ext. 339