Events 2007


Children
in the Margins

October 19, 2007



District Attorney Timothy Cruz, delivers opening remarks


Today´s youth are exposed to risk factors from peers, family, school, the community, and their own perceived values and attitudes.   As a result, many struggle with combinations of substance abuse, mental health, sexuality and violence issues.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Education´s 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, students who engage in one high-risk or health-compromising behavior are often likely to engage in other risk behaviors as well.  For many students, risk behaviors begin well before high school.

Through expert panel discussion, attendees of this conference identified high risk characteristics of youth, and explored innovative strategies for statewide intervention.


District Attorney Timothy Cruz, Attorney General Martha Coakley,
and Mayor James Harrington







The R.O.S.E. Fund´s 2007 Award Celebration

October 9, 2007



Chief Taylor A.B. Mills, of Hingham, MA, presents the White Ribbon Campaign
also pictured:   District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz
New England Patriot´s 1999 Hall of Fame Linebacker Andre Tippett
representatives from the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
and student members of the YMCA



The R.O.S.E. Fund


The R.O.S.E. (Regaining One´s Self-Esteem) Fund is a national non-profit organization.

The fund is intended to help women victims of domestic violence bridge the gap between being victims and becoming survivors.  The focus on self esteem is the thread that runs through all of R.O.S.E.´s initiatives.


District Attorney Tim Cruz, Chief T.A.B. Mills, Andre Tippett
and a representative from The New England Patriots Chartiable Foundation


The White Ribbon Campaign


The White Ribbon Campaign was originally founded in Canada, following the 1989 massacre of 14 young female college students at Montreal´s L´Ecole Polytechnique, a handful of men recognized that as men, they have a responsibility to urge other men to speak out against men´s violence against women, as it could no longer be treated as merely a "Women´s Problem".

These men organized the White Ribbon Campaign to ask men to take the pledge, wear a small white ribbon as a symbol of men´s opposition to men´s violence against women, and enter into a dialogue about men´s violence against women.


District Attorney Tim Cruz, Chief T.A.B. Mills, Andre Tippett
representatives from The New England Patriots Chartiable Foundation
representatives from the Plymouth County White Ribbon Campaign
and student members of the YMCA








Verizon Wireless has recognized District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and
the Plymouth County District Attorney´s Office, with a "HopeLine® Hero" Award

May 2, 2007



pictured from left to right:
Michael DesRochers, Government Accounts, Verizon Wireless
Michael Murphy, PR Manager and HopeLine Administrator, Verizon Wireless
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz
Tamara Spinney, Domestic Violence Coordinator
Courtney Cahill, Assistant District Attorney, Domestic Violence Unit


Verizon Wireless has recognized the Plymouth County District Attorney´s Office, led by
Timothy J. Cruz, with a "HopeLine® Hero" award for their tremendous support of the company´s program to support survivors of domestic violence.

The Verizon Wireless HopeLine® program collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider through phone drives and at Communications Stores nationwide.   Phones that can be refurbished are sold and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.   Proceeds are used to provide wireless phones, air time and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

For the last two years, the Plymouth County District Attorney´s office has coordinated a cross-county collection netting nearly 5,000 wireless phones, batteries and accessories for recycling through HopeLine.   In addition, Tamara Spinney, coordinator of the domestic violence program in the District Attorney´s office, has raised awareness across the south shore on how phone donations can provide valuable communications tools, financial resources and support to domestic violence organizations and survivors.

"The HopeLine Program is effective due to strong support from our local communities and leaders," said Ken Dixon, New England Region president, Verizon Wireless.    "Realizing it takes time and energy to organize phone drives, we created the HopeLine Hero award to express our gratitude to organizations, like the Plymouth County District Attorney´s Office, that go above and beyond to support survivors and raise awareness of this issue."

"We´re proud to receive the HopeLine Hero award from Verizon Wireless," said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.   "Our team has long been involved with the domestic violence cause and all avenues in support of survivors are given our time and attention.   HopeLine is one such avenue."

Throughout 2006, wireless customers in New England donated over 60,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to Verizon Wireless´ HopeLine® phone recycling program to support domestic violence prevention and awareness programs.   As a result of these donations, more than $80,000, and 500 wireless phones, with air time and other features were donated to 50 local agencies throughout New England.

Past recipients of the HopeLine Hero award in New England include Braintree Recycling (Mass), the Boston Police Department, Community Systems, Inc.´s Community Experience Program (Conn.), General Electric, HP, and Private Healthcare Systems (Mass.).

For more information on Verizon Wireless´ HopeLine program and on how to donate a wireless phone, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.






White Ribbon Campaign signing at Carver High School



April 10, 2007.



District Attorney Timothy Cruz


The White Ribbon was presented in one assembly which included the student body from grades nine and ten.

The students were addressed by Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.
He encouraged the young men in the audience to speak out against violence against women.


Carver High School Students took the pledge







Two Plymouth County Prosecutors receive honors

March 29 – 30, 2007



First Assistant District Attorney Frank J. Middleton and District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz



William C. O´Malley Prosecutor of the Year Award


Plymouth County First Assistant District Attorney Frank J. Middleton received the William C. O´Malley Prosecutor of the Year Award.   The O´Malley Prosecutor of the Year Award is a lifetime achievement award which recognizes the special combination of talents embodied in a truly outstanding prosecutor: extraordinary courtroom advocacy skills; a gift for mentoring new prosecutors; compassion for victims; and dedication to the highest standards of professionalism in investigations and in all dealings with defense counsel, the judiciary, and the public at large.

This award is presented annually at the Massachusetts Prosecutors Conference in memory of William C. O´Malley, the District Attorney of Plymouth County from 1979 until his sudden death in April, 1995 at the age of 52.




Assistant District Attorney Courtney Cahill and District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz


Annual Spotlight Award


Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Cahill received the annual Spotlight Award.   This award is given annually to an assistant district attorney from each office in recognition of their outstanding service, spirit, and professionalism.   It provides each District Attorney an opportunity to showcase one ADA in the "spotlight", thanking him/her publicly for a job well done.






White Ribbon Campaign signing at
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School



February 1, 2007




District Attorney Timothy Cruz


The White Ribbon was presented in two assemblies which included the Sophomore and Senior classes.   Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz addressed the student body encouraging young men to speak out against violence against women.








Plymouth County District Attorney´s Office
32 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301
508-584-8120